Potential departures that Manchester City may face in defending the championship

Manchester City, recently crowned champions of the treble after conquering the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in a historic season, faces the possibility of up to seven departures from their squad this summer, one of them being the team captain, whose contract is expiring.

Aymeric Laporte, a 29-year-old Spanish international, has seen reduced playing time as the starting central defender and may consider seeking new challenges at another club, such as a potential return to Athletic Club. On the other hand, Sergio Gómez, a 22-year-old left-back, has also had a secondary role and could be open to new opportunities that offer him more minutes on the field.

Another player who could leave Manchester City is Joao Cancelo, the right-back who has had a tense relationship with coach Pep Guardiola and recently finished the season on loan at Bayern Munich. However, his departure will not be to Bayern as they ultimately will not exercise the option to buy.

Additionally, three other players who have played important roles in Guardiola's plans may seek new adventures. Bernardo Silva, a 28-year-old Portuguese attacking midfielder, and Riyad Mahrez, a 32-year-old Algerian winger, could generate income for the club if they are transferred.

Their captain

However, in the case of Ilkay Gündogan, a 32-year-old German central midfielder, Manchester City will have to bid him farewell without obtaining any financial compensation, as his contract expires on June 30 and the player's future remains uncertain as he has not made a decision yet.