Manchester City rarely let a player go if they are not happy, or at least content, with his departure.
When Raheem Sterling left Manchester City to join Chelsea in the summer, there was a sense that his time with Pep Guardiola’s team had come to an end.
City didn’t push him out the door – and would have rather for him to stay – but they didn’t stop him from twisting the handle.
With Ilkay Gundogan as the lone first-year player whose contract expires in 2023, City are content with their current scenario.
It remains to be seen whether the German will remain with Guardiola’s side, but the club will still see the situation favourably.
Phil Foden, City’s outstanding player, is set to sign a new contract with the club in the coming months, as his present agreement expires in 2024.
All parties expect the negotiations to go smoothly, and the departure of the attacking midfielder would be a significant surprise.
However, City does have one contract matter that needs to be resolved, if not right away, then very soon.
Kyle Walker’s current contract expires in 2024, although unlike Foden, it is uncertain what will happen to the veteran right-back.
The 32-year-old, who has 20 months left on his current contract with the Premier League champions, has been missing this month after picking up an injury, but he was still included in England’s latest squad to face Italy and Germany in the Nations League later this month.
Despite playing as part of a back-three for the Three Lions on several occasions, he remains his country’s first-choice right-back.
While he faces stiff competition for a starting spot for England, with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea’s Reece James both fighting to start on the right, the full-back position with City is very much his own, and it does not appear to be changing anytime soon.
Nonetheless, the City hierarchy has chosen to postpone discussions regarding extending his stay at the Etihad until after the World Cup finals in Qatar.
Although, given his age, he is certainly entering the twilight of his elite career, Walker boasts an excellent fitness record and had missed just seven matches through injury in his entire City career prior to his current setback.
