Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed whether he intends to keep working with experienced midfield duo Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan next year.
With the Premier League champions' chances of an unprecedented five-peat virtually dead in the water as they lie 20 points behind leaders Liverpool in the top-flight table, attention is turning to a possible summer rebuild.
Gundogan and Silva represent two of several players aged 30 or over who could be moved on as part of Man City's squad refresh; a recent report claimed that as many as seven could be axed when the campaign is over.
Gundogan - who rejoined from Barcelona last year but has failed to recapture his former form at the Etihad - is due to become a free agent this summer, but his deal includes the option of a one-year extension.
Meanwhile, Silva's terms run out at the end of the 2025-26 campaign without a clause for an additional 12 months, and Guardiola was questioned on the future of some of his veterans ahead of Sunday's FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle.
Guardiola confirms desire to keep Gundogan, Silva at Man City
© IconSport
The Catalonian coach revealed his desire to keep working with Silva and Gundogan next season, seemingly confirming that the latter's 12-month extension option will be triggered, but he could offer no guarantees on Kevin De Bruyne.
"There are players here who are over 30 that will be part of the future of this club – except Kevin, where he and the club will decide," Guardiola told the media.
"The others have contracts and next season I expect them to be here. They are going to help us? Yes or yes! Next season there will be a lot of games and this lot of games you cannot do it just with new ones, or the old ones – you have to be all together!
"I count on Gundo, I count on Bernie, I count on all the players who have a Man City contract – they are there! No doubts about that. And they will be really important at the end of this season, and next season.
"I cannot figure out my period here without Gundogan, Bernardo, Kevin. I'm more grateful than you could ever imagine. The success we've had as a manager impossible without these players."
Silva and Gundogan stay, but who could leave Man City?
© Imago
While Gundogan and Silva have both been given the public green light to stay by their manager, De Bruyne's situation is a little more complex, as his deal is up in the summer with no option to extend.
The Belgium international turns 34 in June and has seen his powers wane this season, leading to the expectation that he could end his golden spell for one final lucrative payday in Saudi Arabia or MLS.
Nevertheless, a recent report has claimed that De Bruyne is prepared to stay at the Etihad for the 2025-26 campaign, even though he has accepted that he will only be a bit-part player for Guardiola.
On the other hand, all of John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson and Jack Grealish might be moved on, while the futures of James McAtee and Matheus Nunes are also clouded in some uncertainty.
Ben Knapton
