In the midst of an underwhelming stretch in the Premier League, Manchester City find themselves currently placed in the fourth position.
However, the football landscape quickly shifted as the Cityzens etched their name in history on a memorable night in Jeddah.
In the Club World Cup final against Fluminense, Pep Guardiola's squad secured their fifth trophy under his command with a commanding performance. Julian Alvarez's early goal set the tone, and City scarcely relented, adding goals from Phil Foden, an own goal, and another from Alvarez to cruise to victory.
Despite this triumph, the defending Premier League champions are considering strategic moves in the upcoming January transfer window to address recent challenges.
While the focus may be on potential incoming players, there's another dimension to City's transfer considerations. Several high-profile players, finding playing time hard to come by under Guardiola's system, could be eyeing exits from the club.
As the January transfer window looms, the Sky Blues' ambitions for both reinforcements and potential departures could shape the next phase of their season.
We present you five Manchester City stars who could leave the club in the January transfer window.
FIVE Manchester City players who could leave in January
Kalvin Phillips
Kalvin Phillips stands out as the primary candidate for departure, despite Guardiola expressing a desire for the England international to stay.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is confident in the Englishman's' exit, citing the player's decision to reject a move in the summer to secure a spot in the starting lineup.
Numerous clubs, including Juventus and Newcastle United, have been linked with the 28-year-old, while Bayern Munich may also consider the player as they continue their search for a defensive midfielder.
City acquired him from Leeds in 2022 for an approximate fee of €50 million, but his playing time has been limited, accumulating only 31 appearances thus far.
Image source: Getty Images
Zack Steffen
Once hailed as the promising goalkeeper for the United States Men's National Team, Zack Steffen's move to Manchester City has become somewhat of a challenging journey.
Despite a commendable loan spell at Fortuna Dusseldorf, the 28-year-old's performance has witnessed a gradual decline since leaving Major League Soccer.
Finding himself relegated to the third-choice goalkeeper under Pep Guardiola, the American eyeing a departure in 2024. However, securing a move in the upcoming January transfer window might prove difficult, considering the goalkeeper is currently recovering from a knee injury. Steffen's contract is set to expire in 2025.
Sergio Gomez
Formerly regarded as a promising La Masia talent, Sergio Gomez finds himself primarily on the bench at Manchester City.
Transferred from Anderlecht for €15 million in 2022, the 23-year-old's playing time mirrors that of Kalvin Phillips, both having made 31 appearances since their respective moves.
With limited opportunities at City, the Spanish midfielder is undoubtedly considering a January departure, even if it's just temporarily, to secure more playing time. Gomez aims to enhance his chances of making it into the Spain squad for Euro 2024. In the current season, he has featured in only eight matches so far.
Stefan Ortega
Stefan Ortega, a player of considerable skill not suited for a backup role, is expected to attract significant interest in the January transfer window.
However, it seems improbable that Guardiola would approve a move, given that it could leave him with 38-year-old Scott Carson as the sole fit senior backup to Ederson.
City's second-choice goalkeeper possesses the talent to secure a starting position in most top-flight teams across Europe. It's noteworthy that Bayern Munich was once linked with him, especially before Manuel Neuer's return from injury. Dissatisfied with his limited playing time, the German has featured in only five games this season.
Oscar Bobb
City could potentially face a scenario akin to the Cole Palmer situation, this time with 20-year-old Norwegian sensation Oscar Bobb. Although Bobb has showcased his talent in brief appearances, his opportunities on the field have mostly been limited to cameo roles off the bench.
Considering the success of Palmer at Chelsea post his summer move, the Manchester giants are understandably hesitant to allow another highly-regarded talent to leave permanently.
Despite attracting interest from potential suitors, Guardiola is unlikely to approve anything beyond a loan deal for the starlet.
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