5 stars most at risk as Pep threatens to resign if City don’t cut squad down

PEP GUARDIOLA has threatened to quit Manchester City if they do not cut the size of his squad this summer.

The Spaniard had to leave out several stars from his 20-man squad for Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

And he revealed the situation is “impossible for my soul”.

With Pep wanting a smaller squad, SunSport’s PHIL THOMAS assesses which Etihad players are facing the exit . . .

JACK GREALISH

THE man who arrived as the nation’s costliest signing in 2021, but British football’s first £100million man now plays no more than a bit-part role.

Grealish has started only seven Prem games and any doubts about his future effectively ended in last week’s FA Cup final, when Pep chucked on untried kid Claudio Echeverri instead.

Regular action demands a move – but also a huge drop in wages.

JOHN STONES

ON his day Stones has plenty of backers as the best ball-playing English centre back, and at times when others doubted him, Pep Guardiola always fiercely fought his corner.

But injuries have limited him to 18 Prem starts in two seasons – only six in this one – and fitness woes mean he can’t be relied on.

There are whispers David Moyes, who signed him from Barnsley as a teenager, would like him back at Everton. Even if it is only a season-long loan, the deal makes sense.

EDERSON

THE Brazilian keeper has been a fixture in the side for eight years, but this season a few cracks have appeared.

Injuries have meant more openings for back-up Stefan Ortega, another whose future may be elsewhere, yet even when fully fit, Ederson is no longer an automatic pick.

A pocket-lining move to Saudi Arabia wouldn’t be the biggest surprise…they have flirted with him before but this time could have a different outcome.

JAMES McATEE

HIS City future looked pretty solid when Pep Guardiola knocked back Chelsea’s efforts to sign him in January, a month in which McAtee hit an FA Cup hat-trick against Salford.

But the local-born midfielder knows he will probably only have a cameo role if he sticks around, and with promoted Leeds sniffing around, McAtee’s best chance of regular football is likely to be at Elland Road.

MATEO KOVACIC

MAYBE a surprise, given his end-of-season form, but with Rodri fit, Nico Gonzalez signed in January and possibly Morgan Gibbs-White to come, Kovacic could be back in the shadows.

There has been interest from Atletico Madrid and Saudi Arabia, and with two years left on his contract, it wouldn’t be a huge shock if City decided to cash in.