GUARDIOLA SET FOR A CLEAROUT
Zabaleta off to West Ham as Pep gets ready to wave goodbye to a dozen City players in the summer
MANCHESTER CITY stalwart Pablo Zabaleta is heading to West Ham as Pep Guardiola’s clear-out at the Etihad Stadium started in earnest yesterday.
Up to a dozen players could be leaving this summer, with highly-rated Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho among them as Borussia Dortmund show an interest.
Zabaleta, 32, was given a huge ovation by City fans when he appeared as a late substitute in yesterday’s 2-1 win against Leicester City, secured by goals from David Silva and Gabriel Jesus.
The popular Argentine, who signed from Espanyol as City were taken over by their current Abu Dhabi owners in 2008, is understood to have agreed a two-year deal with the Hammers.
City said on their official website: ‘Pablo is out of contract in the summer and has informed the club he will move to pastures new.’
Five other players — Jesus Navas, Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Yaya Toure — are also out of contract while there appears no future for Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony, Samir Nasri or Jason Denayer, who have spent this season away on loan.