Two defenders seem to have their cards marked at Manchester City

Manchester City entered this season with Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, John Stones and Nathan Ake as the four senior centre-backs in Pep Guardiola’s squad. Dias and Gvardiol are City’s first-choice centre-back pairing. They have shown that across this season. Ake and Stones would provide cover for them when necessary. That seemed to be City’s plan for the 25/26 season. When injury struck Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, in an ideal world John Stones and Nathan Ake would step into their place. That isn’t what has unfolded. Once again, John Stones is sidelined due to injury for the foreseeable future. Nathan Ake looks to be battling fitness issues of his own.

Based on the fitness battles Ake and Stones have faced this season, and in previous campaigns, it does seem that their cards are marked at Manchester City. It is hard to see either player being a part of the City squad for next season. Both players have been key players in a successful era at the club but their constant fitness issues could seem them both leave in the summer.

Pep Guardiola has dropped his biggest hint that John Stones time at Manchester City is nearing an end.

Speaking before his team drew with Brighton last night, Pep Guardiola dropped the biggest hint in terms of John Stones’ future at Manchester City. John Stones’ contract is set to expire at the end of this season. Given the injury issues he has faced this season, and in previous seasons, it seems unlikely that Stones will be offered a new deal at City. When speaking on the future of John Stones, a deflated Pep Guardiola said, in quotes relayed by CityXtra: “I think what happened in the last two seasons will be defined in a decision at the end of the season.”

There appears to be only one ending to the time of John Stones at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s statement says it all. Stones has been ravaged by injury over the past two seasons and there seems to be little chance of City offering the England international a new contract. Stones has been an integral member of Manchester City’s recent era of success. But his fitness issues have held him back. There doesn’t seem to be any sense in City offering Stones a new deal at this point.

Nathan Ake is in a similar position to John Stones.

This season has seen Nathan Ake become a squad player at City. He has mainly been used in Carabao Cup games, the odd Champions League match, or as a late substitute when required. Ake is a reliable member of Pep Guardiola’s squad but he has also battled fitness issues over the past few seasons. Even this season Ake hasn’t appeared to be fully fit and his nagging fitness issues are an issue. Given Manchester City’s current injury crisis in defence it is hard to see City letting Ake leave in January. That may change if City sign a centre-back in the January transfer window. But come the end of this season, it would not be a surprise to see Ake leave Manchester City after giving so much to the club.

Final thoughts.

John Stones and Nathan Aké have been key players for Manchester City during their time at the club. Both players were key components throughout Manchester City’s recent era of success. But as they get older, they have both been plagued by fitness issues. Those issues seem to have them marked as players who will likely leave the club they’ve given so much to in the summer.