Pep Guardiola may be staying at Manchester City, but there could still be change at the Premier League champions next summer.
City have struggled this season due to their usual high standards and there is a growing belief that they will look to refresh their squad next year.
The fact that Guardiola stays will only arouse this desire and, here, Standard sport looks at some of the activities that could take place.
Possible expenses
Ederson
The goalkeeper was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last summer, but ended up staying put.
The Brazilian has been a mainstay of City’s squad since his arrival in 2017, but the club could be tempted to cash in on him.
Ederson’s understudy Stefan Ortega performed well when given the chance and would be eager to play for longer.
City could also consider entering the transfer market to replace Ederson, who admitted his head was turned this summer by the huge wages on offer in Saudi Arabia.
Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian was another City player linked with a lucrative move to the Middle East during the last transfer window.
The 33-year-old has also been tipped for a possible move to Major League Soccer (MLS) and his contract is set to expire at the end of this season.
De Bruyne has been one of the best players in the Premier League over the past decade, but more recently he has been injured.
Guardiola was adamant last summer that De Bruyne would not leave, but it remains to be seen what his stance will be this time around.
Kyle Walker
The right-back will be 35 next summer and will then only have one year left on his contract.
He has struggled for minutes this season after playing for England at the European Championship, with Rico Lewis providing serious competition for his place in the City team.
Walker is currently City’s captain and it would be a big call for the club to move him on. But if they are looking to refresh the squad, letting the England star leave could represent a viable solution.
Possible recipes
Jeremy Frimpong
Once a City academy product, the right-back has been in fine form for German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Frimpong scored 14 goals last season in all competitions and his ability to get forward makes him a dangerous weapon.
If City want to move on from Walker, then the 23-year-old is a signing that would make a lot of sense.
Frimpong is reportedly ready to leave Leverkusen next summer in search of a new challenge – and he won’t be short of offers.
Florian Wirtz
Like Frimpong, the German played for Leverkusen and is expected to land big money next summer.
Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest in the attacking midfielder, who scored 18 goals last season.
At just 21 years old, Wirtz is considered one of the best young players in the world and could be De Bruyne’s heir.
Capable of playing out wide or as a No.10, he would fit in well at City given their style of football and free-flowing system.
Martin Zubimendi
City’s recent struggles have shown how much they need competition and cover for Rodri.
They struggled without their star midfielder, who suffered a serious knee injury in early September.
Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi has become a reported target. He has excelled in La Liga and was linked with a move to Liverpool last summer, while Arsenal were also credited with an interest.
Comfortable playing at the base of the midfield, the Spaniard would go some way to helping City do without Rodri.