“I count on Gundo, I count on Bernie” – Pep Guardiola shuts down idea of mass Manchester City exits this summer | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has seemingly shut down the possibility of mass exits from his first-team squad during the summer transfer window.

Amid a challenging season for all involved at the Etihad Stadium, reports are beginning to grow over how Manchester City could conduct themselves in the upcoming summer transfer window with the general consensus being that somewhat of an overhaul could take place.

While Txiki Begiristain, along with support from incoming sporting director Hugo Viana, sanctioned the arrivals of four new first-team players in the winter transfer market, a similar amount of further signings could come at the end of the season.

Manchester City are believed to be eyeing recruitment in the goalkeeper ranks, as well as the wide full-back berths, and throughout their central midfield positions, with a number of exits anticipated at the same time.

Some reports in recent weeks have gone as far as to suggest that as many as eight first-team players could leave Manchester City following the conclusion of the season, including the likes of Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson, and John Stones.

But speaking during his latest press conference looking ahead to the weekend’s meeting with Plymouth Argyle, Pep Guardiola was keen to insist upon his feeling regarding his older players in the first-team squad amid recent reports concerning their respective futures.

“Don’t misunderstand me; there are players for age, over 30, they’ll be part of the future of this club, because – except Kevin [De Bruyne] who will decide his future with the club – the others have a contract and next season, I expect them to be here,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.

The Manchester City manager continued, “They are going to help us, yes or yes! Next season there will be a lot, 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!

“And they will be really important at the end of this season, and next season. I count on [Ilkay] Gundo, I count on Bernie [Silva], I count on all the players who have a contract – they are there! No doubts about that.”

Despite the possibility that a number of Manchester City’s older players may remain at the club into next season, that will likely not hold back the club from investing in new talents during the market.

Hugo Viana is believed to already be working on striking together negotiations and conversations with agents and representatives throughout Europe on behalf of Manchester City, preparing for the closed season and his formal arrival at the Etihad Stadium.

The likes of Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz are expected to be primary targets for the reigning Premier League champions, although the signing of both players could exceed a spend of £200 million alone.