Five Manchester City midfield names linked with exits from the Etihad Stadium this summer | OneFootball

Manchester City have five midfield names in mind for potential exits from the club in the weeks that remain in the ongoing summer transfer window, according to reports.

The Premier League giants have spent the opening months of the market reinforcing key areas of Pep Guardiola’s squad, securing four significant additions including midfielders Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki.

With much of their incoming business now believed to be complete, attention has shifted toward balancing the group through sales and loan deals, and sporting director Hugo Viana is leading the operation to streamline first-team options ahead of the new campaign.

With an expanded and competitive squad following the arrivals of high-calibre talent, the club now faces key decisions over players who may find regular minutes hard to come by, or whose futures lie elsewhere due to form, injuries, or personal preference.

That context has placed a spotlight on five midfielders in particular, some of which are long-standing members of Pep Guardiola’s set-up whose roles have recently diminished, while others are younger prospects assessing their pathways amid elite-level competition.

According to the information of the Manchester Evening News’ Tyrone Marshall, all of Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish, and James McAtee are set to move on from Manchester City this summer.

It is further stated that there is a chance that one of Nico Gonzalez or Ilkay Gundogan will also depart the club as sporting director Hugo Viana looks to trim down the numbers within the first-team operation following four new arrivals this summer.

Kalvin Phillips is the most clear-cut case as he remains entirely out of Pep Guardiola’s plans for the 2025/26 season, with the club awaiting suitable offers. Despite an underwhelming spell since arriving from Leeds United, interest in the midfielder persists.

A potential emotional return to Elland Road has been rumoured following Leeds’ promotion back to the top-flight, but it remains unclear whether a formal bid will materialise. Jack Grealish, meanwhile, is generating attention from both England and Italy.

Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are among the Premier League sides weighing up a move, while Napoli’s name has recently surfaced following the player’s holiday in southern Italy. However, Grealish’s wages represent a significant obstacle, meaning a loan is most realistic at present.

James McAtee is perhaps the most intriguing name on the list. After positive spells at Sheffield United and growing first-team exposure, McAtee is now evaluating his long-term prospects at the Etihad Stadium.

Although he visited clubs in Germany in recent days, the playmaker is now understood to favour remaining in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest and West Ham among the clubs credited with interest, and a permanent transfer with a buy-back clause possible.

Nico Gonzalez’s situation is more fluid; while Manchester City continue to expect the midfielder to report back for pre-season as planned, and have not actively placed him on the market, questions have been raised about his importance. City are likely to remain open to interest depending on the player’s own wishes.

As for Ilkay Gundogan, the experienced midfielder remains linked with a possible switch to Turkey, amid monitoring from Galatasaray despite the player triggering an automatic contract extension earlier this summer. While there is no urgency from City to offload Gundogan, the club would not stand in his way should a suitable opportunity and personal desire align.

With around five weeks left in the window, Manchester City are expected to accelerate their outgoings strategy. Any departures would not only ease the club’s wage bill but also provide further clarity for Pep Guardiola’s midfield structure ahead of another demanding season across four competitions.