5 Players Manchester City Should Clear out in 2015 Summer Transfer Window

Manchester City look set to embark on a summer of big spending in an attempt to reshape their squad ahead of the new season. A limp title defence and two poor domestic-cup exits saw City end the 2014/15 campaign disappointed, and so begins a period of rebuilding.

Uefa’s financial fair play sanctions, which restricted City’s net spend last summer to £49 million, will be lifted, and with the club’s financial situation improving all the time, they have money to spend on some big-name players.

To make room for new acquisitions, Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, will be looking to move a few players on. As squads progress, some players get left behind and there are a handful of players at the Etihad whose future would be better served elsewhere.

With James Milner on his way to Liverpool, here are five other players City should look to clear out in the coming weeks.

1. Stevan Jovetic

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Two seasons at City for Stevan Jovetic have done little to prove he is cut out for life in the Premier League.

His first was injury-ravaged; his second has just been disastrous. He’s been given opportunities to impress and failed to take all of them. Too often his finishing has been profligate and he has a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long.

The talent is quite clearly there, but given the number of options City have in their squad to play the withdrawn-striker role, it would be better for Jovetic to look for first-team football elsewhere.

The problem City face is that buyers will look to drive Jovetic’s price down, given his poor injury record. His stock remains high in Italy, but Serie A clubs are notorious for trying to strike complicated, knockdown deals for players.

City may have to accept they will make a loss on a player who, according to BBC Sport, cost them £22 million just two summers ago.

2. Edin Dzeko

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If Edin Dzeko does leave the Etihad this summer, he will be remembered in Manchester as a player who has contributed significantly to City’s success in recent seasons.

The Bosnian has scored 72 goals for the club, many of which have been vitally important. He’s far from perfect, but few can doubt his ability to score when the stakes are high.

This season, though, has been a struggle. Six goals in all competitions is disappointing, and, at 29, perhaps the time has come for him to play football elsewhere.

3. Willy Caballero

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Quite why Willy Caballero was signed remains something of a mystery. City needed a reserve goalkeeper last summer, but given they were restricted to a £49 million net spend; it was somewhat odd they chose to spend £4.4 million (rising to £6 million) on a player who was unlikely to play too often.

And whenever he has played this season, he’s looked poor. His distribution is very good—better, in fact, than Joe Hart’s—but he is inferior to the England No. 1 in every other department.

Caballero will struggle to play too often for City, and given he has a reputation as being an outstanding goalkeeper in La Liga, City would surely receive offers if they decided to ship him on.

4. Samir Nasri

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A supremely talented player, Samir Nasri’s problem this season, and throughout much of his career, has been consistency.

There are very few players in the City squad who possess the same level of technical quality. He can keep possession as well as anybody, and has an intelligence that often sees him one step ahead of the opposition.

But he lost his place in the City side towards the end of this season and it appears Pellegrini may have lost faith in the Frenchman. At 27, he would command a decent fee, but the number of clubs who will want him and can match his wages is probably small.

5. Aleksandar Kolarov

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Aleksandar Kolarov has had a mixed season for City. It started dreadfully, and it seemed he had lost his place in the side to Gael Clichy. However, a strong finish to the campaign during City’s run of six straight wins has perhaps strengthened his position at the club.

He’s 29, though, and if City can identify a younger, better left-back, then it’s likely they would consider selling the Serbian.