Blues face contract calls this summer
CITY have a host of player contracts to negotiate this summer on top of their pursuit of transfer targets.
The priority of recruiting at least one marquee signing in attack has not changed over the course of this season.
The club are in a good position for the scramble to sign Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland, and will also be primed should Lionel Messi become available in the market for the first time in his professional career.
Protecting and prolonging the futures of current players in the squad will also play a large part of City’s business this summer, though.
There are imminent decisions to be made on Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero, both first-team players and club legends that are out of contract at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old midfielder continues to show that he can perform at the highest level even if his minutes have to be managed, while Pep Guardiola insists the club record scorer will decide when he leaves the club, although he has struggled to overcome numerous injury struggles over the past nine months.
City will also attempt to tie down a number of other important first-team players.
John Stones is approaching the final 12 months of his contract and has commanded a new deal after revitalising his career at the Etihad with his performances this season.
Meanwhile, the club will hope to agree further extensions with Kevin de Bruyne and Raheem Sterling - two of the most valuable players in the squad - who will have just two years left on their deals by the summer.
Guardiola has also spoken about his wish to sort a new deal for third-choice keeper Scott Carson, who has been on loan in Manchester for the last two seasons but is currently still owned by Championship side Derby County.
City have spoken to representatives of the players but will wait until the summer to conduct the bulk of this business, with Guardiola not wanting distractions as the squad attempts to win an unprecedented four-trophy haul.
“Now, honestly, I could tell you an answer that is a lie, but I don’t know what is going to happen,” he said this month.
“In my mind, right now, next season is far away, as is the project for next season.
“We have worked a lot to be in this position. I don’t want to be distracted. If I am distracted, the players will feel I am distracted. I have to be focused on the next game.”