Out with the old... and in with the Blue!

PEP Guardiola laid out his vision for the future of City, with the academy right at its heart.

The Blues boss made it plain he is aiming to take four or five youngsters with him to their training camp in the USA this summer.

The under-18s are a promising crop, and they look certain to reach the FA Youth Cup final for the third consecutive year as they lead Aston Villa 6-0 after the first leg of their semi-final.

“There are four or five players – of course they are young, 16, 17, 18 years old – who I would be delighted to be here for a long time, to give them a hand, to put them on the field, to feel protected by the manager and the experienced guys on the field and to play them,” said Guardiola.

“I know how important it is for the fans to have people who grew up from the academy. They have to know we are there – we can’t give them talent if they are not able or willing to take that challenge.

“But we are there and they are good enough and have a passion and want to live for that, to become something in Europe or world football, they have to know that we are there.”

But with the spine of City’s successful team of the last five years now getting that bit older, could Guardiola really replace them from the academy ranks?

We look at the five players who have been central to City’s haul of two Premier League titles, two League Cups and an FA Cup and see who could feasibly take their place. THE England keeper is already a part of City’s history, and his replacements Willy Caballero and Claudio Bravo are 35 and 33 respectively.

Angus Gunn is the man earmarked to step in. The 21-year-old is steeped in City, and the fact he is the number three and has not been sent out on loan illustrates the faith they have in him.

Further down the scale, 18-yearold Swiss Ari Muric is 6ft 6ins, agile and confident with his feet. AFTER another troubled season, replacing Kompany is becoming a matter of urgency.

Tosin Adarabioyo has long been earmarked but he appears to be getting disillusioned with lack of opportunity and could leave this summer. He looks the part on the pitch – tall, athletic and composed on the ball – and off it he is an articulate and driven individual.

Cameron Humphreys also comes into the equation, while youth team stalwart Joel Latibeaudiere ticks the boxes as well. TOUGHEST ask of the lot, finding a player that has all of Yaya’s physical attributes, quick feet and acute football brain. Aleix Garcia has the latter two, but has not shown an ability to impose himself on games like Yaya.

Youth team kingpin Sadou Diallo comes closer, a powerfully-built, athletic holding midfielder with great technical ability, while Rodney Kongolo deserves a shout as well. City are blessed in this regard, with Brahim Diaz touted as the natural heir, unless Manu Garcia can emerge from his loan at NAC Breda with maturity.

Diaz is a real talent, slick, tough and direct with a lovely touch, but he already has competition from Stockport lad Phil Foden, and fellow Spaniard Paolo Fernandes, both beautifully raw talents. Jadon Sancho tends to play wide left so is not really a potential Silva heir, but his ability to influence games is similar. GOALSCORERS like Kun are not ten-a-penny, and that is why Guardiola has brought in a 19-yearold Brazil international.

Thierry Ambrose was earmarked for greatness but has to show he can bounce back from his long-term injury and start scoring again.