Manchester City have one of the biggest and most talented squads in world football, with each position brimming with quality and depth very few teams in the sport can compete with.
Pep Guardiola’s squad building over the past few seasons has worked wonders for City as they have been able to compete on all fronts in both domestic and continental football. However, the system does still mean that some players fall through the cracks.
Whilst City’s squad rotation allows virtually most senior players to get a crack at first-team football, it does mean that some good players have been resigned to bit-part roles where they could be star players elsewhere. With that in mind, who could leave the Manchester giants in 2022?
Nathan Ake
Ake was picked up by City last year following the relegation of AFC Bournemouth for a reported fee of £40m. Yet despite the lofty price tag, the Dutch international has not had much of an impact on the squad.
2020/21 saw fellow defensive signing Ruben Dias and John Stones form the best centre-back partnership in the league. Moreover, Aymeric Laporte has repreised his role in the XI this campaign alongside the Portuguese defender.
And it’s because of this that has left Ake in the shadows at City. Whilst the former Cherries star has performed well when called upon, the 26-year-old is much better than just a fourth-choice role. Indeed, many clubs will also be eager to snap up the Chelsea academy graduate should he request a move in 2022.
Philippe Sandler
From one Dutch centre-back to another, it’s very easy to forget that Philippe Sandler is still on City’s books after joining the club in 2018 and making just two appearances in all competitions since arriving in Manchester.
Injuries have not been kind to the 24-year-old defender after City snapped for the former Netherlands youth international from PEC Zwolle three years ago. However, Sandler is now back with the centre-back currently with sister club Troyes. And 2022 should be the year both the club and player realise that a permanent move is for the best.
We have seen stories like this many times, namely with Chelsea, who have hoarded promising talents snapped up from a young age before going out on numerous loan spells with no intention of playing for the first team. And for Sandler, the defender simply has to leave Manchester if his career is to have any real legacy.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
It might seem harsh for Oleksandr Zinchenko to end up on this list. After all, the defender is a fan favourite at the Etihad Stadium, and the ongoing joke that he is the son of Kevin De Bruyne is something supporters love to laugh about.
However, this season has seen the Ukrainian international slip down the pecking order at City, with the versatile 25-year-old starting just six games in all competitions for Guardiola’s side. And 2022 could be the year the former Ufa star departs the Premier League side.
With reports suggesting that Zinchenko could be on the market, the Ukraine captain could be an excellent player for a club where he will play a more advanced and starring role rather than back-up left-back to Joao Cancelo, whose form has kept the defender out of the XI all season.
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