Manchester City are set to reduce their wage bill this summer as part of a broader strategy to overhaul an ageing squad.
The former Premier League champions faced a challenging season, plagued by injuries and inconsistent performances.
Even Pep Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history, has struggled to find the right formula.
With the squad reaching the end of a cycle, City began their transformation during the winter transfer window.
Key additions included Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were primarily signed for the future.
However, the squad overhaul is expected to go even further this summer, with several high-profile departures anticipated.
Kevin De Bruyne will bring an end to his decade-long career at the Etihad Stadium after this season, while club icons Bernardo Silva and Ederson are also being linked with summer exits.
According to The Athletic, City plan to trim their wage bill by moving on some of their top earners.
While the club still aims to recruit “four or five new players” this summer, they will look for replacements with lower wage demands than the departing stars.
The report notes that while City will focus on reducing their wage expenditure, this will not mean compromising on recruitment.
For instance, Florian Wirtz is a realistic target, but even the highly sought-after German’s expected salary would fall far short of the £400,000 per week currently spent on De Bruyne.
It has also been revealed which positions City are targeting for improvement this summer.
The club are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper, a full-back, and at least one creative midfielder.
Wirtz and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are among the potential targets for the midfield role, while Porto’s Diogo Costa has been identified as the club’s next goalkeeper.
Both right-back and left-back positions are also expected to undergo upgrades.
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