Manchester City have one of the finest squads in the Premier League, both in terms of quality and depth. The Citizens further strengthened over the summer transfer window with the addition of Ferran Torres from Valencia and Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. Still on the lookout for another top-quality defender, City have been linked to Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and it remains to be seen whether he joins the club before the close of the transfer window. However, here we focus on a few possible departures from City before deadline day.
Eric Garcia
A young and promising centre-back with loads of potential, Eric Garcia isn’t someone that Manchester City would ideally like to see leave. However, the 19-year-old’s thirst for first team football coupled with the belief that Barcelona are prepared to offer him that might just force the Manchester club’s hand into selling him. A versatile player who can slot in at right-back, Garcia was a part of Barcelona’s famous La Masia before joining City. He made his debut for City in December 2018 but hasn’t featured regularly for the club, leading to him being frustrated with his lack of chances and hence wanting a move away from the club. Although City maybe understandably reluctant to part with Garcia, going their separate ways is perhaps the best course of action for both parties.
John Stones
When John Stones joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016 on a six-year contract in a deal worth 47.5 million pounds plus 2.5 million in potential add-ons, he was regarded as England’s best centre-back. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, Stones was supposed to fit seamlessly into Pep Guardiola’s style of play in Manchester City. However, things have been far from smooth for Stones during his time in Manchester. Lapses at the back have led to him spending most of his time on the bench these days. No longer a part of England’s starting XI either, the last season was particularly difficult for Stones, who fell down Guardiola and English head coach Gareth Southgate’s pecking order. Shot of confidence as well, Stones is no longer a part of City’s first-team plans and that’s unlikely to change. At the moment, a move away from City looks like it would benefit Stones, who could rediscover his appetite for the game in a new environment.
Tosin Adarabioyo
Part of Manchester City’s youth system from the tender age of 5, Tosin Adarabioyo eventually made his first-team debut for the club in 2016 during an FA Cup match against Chelsea. With that in mind, chances have been few and far between for the 22-year-old ever since. Adarabioyo, in fact, has been away from the club for most of the time following his debut, plying his trade in the Championship with the likes of West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers. However, with Premier League clubs like Everton reportedly monitoring the 22-year-old’s situation at City, parting ways could prove to be a good solution for both parties as the player can look forward to some game time in England’s top-flight while his boyhood club gets to cash in on him.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis
