Man City take surprise transfer stance ahead of summer window

Manchester City are planning to cut their wage bill this summer as they continue to overhaul an ageing squad.

The recently dethroned champions have endured a tumultuous campaign sparked by injuries and fuelled by uncertain performances on the pitch. Even Pep Guardiola, arguably the greatest manager in football history, has struggled to pull things together.

City have come to the end of a cycle and started the transformation of their experienced squad during the winter transfer window. Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez were major additions, while Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were predominantly signed for the future.

But the overhaul will go further and big names are expected to depart. Kevin De Bruyne will end his decade-long career at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the campaign, while club icons Bernardo Silva and Ederson are among those touted with summer exits.

According to The Athletic, City are planning to trim the wage bill with such exits and while they're still aiming to recruit "four or five new players" this summer, the club will identify players with lower wage demands than the departing stars they're replacing.

The report states that while City will attempt to cut the wage bill, "it does not mean that they are going to cut corners in their recruitment". For example, Florian Wirtz is a realistic target for the club this summer, but even the superstar German's expected salary wouldn't match the approximately £400,000 per week currently being spent on De Bruyne.

It's also been revealed the positions City will target this summer. The Manchester giants are looking for a new goalkeeper, full-back and at least one creative midfielder - with the aforementioned Wirtz and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White targeted.

Porto's Diogo Costa has been identified as City's next goalkeeper, while both right-back and left-back could use upgrading this summer.

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