Man City set to sell HALF their struggling side with Pep Guardiola backed to perform ruthless hard reset & launch 'new era'

Sweeping change is being mooted as the reigning Premier League champions find themselves stuck in a rut that has delivered just one win from their last 12 games in all competitions. No questions are being asked of Guardiola, after committing to a new contract, but underperforming players are facing the threat of being axed.

City resisted any urge to splash the cash in the summer of 2024, but their approach to recruitment could be markedly different 12 months on. That is because the Blues are being tipped to part with a number of supposed stars as they look to freshen up their ranks and rebuild.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has said in the Daily Record: "They are generally achieving their targets and something that gets the renewed target of this season is top four. That is what City want to do. That is the target they have all put I their head. I think they will achieve that. They are not that far away at the moment. You are talking about an achievable target.

"They want to recover the essence of the team, the look of the team. But quite clearly Pep Guardiola is going to use the last two years of his contract - which are probably be the last two of his career as a club manager - to prepare a new Manchester City. I have got a very clear idea that they will want to get rid of five or six regular starters for Manchester City and bring five or six new starters. Half of the team. It is a new era. The end of this one and a new era starting.

"The cycle is over but remember that only a month-and-a-half ago they had not lost a game and were top of the table. But that in my eyes is what is happening. That is what they are going to do next."

Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan will be out of contract in the summer of 2025, while Kyle Walker is seeing a move elsewhere speculated on at the age of 34. Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson has suitors in Saudi Arabia, Bernardo Silva has been linked with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain for some time, while City will reportedly listen to offers for Portuguese centre-half Ruben Dias.