Manchester City's heavy loss to Manchester
United in the derby at Old Trafford on Sunday
was further evidence of the decline suffered by
the reigning Premier League champions this
season.
Instead of defending their title they are now
thrust into a battle to ensure they remain in
the top four places to secure Champions
League football next season. If Liverpool beat
Newcastle United at Anfield on Monday they
will close to within four points.
Irrespective of how this season ends, City's
ageing squad is in need of a serious overhaul
and speculation continues to surround the
future of manager Manuel Pellegrini.
So who should be in or out at the Etihad next
season?
Willy Caballero (goalkeeper)
Age: 33; Signed: 2014 (£6m); Appearances: 2
Caballero was very much Manuel Pellegrini's
man as a signing to understudy Joe Hart,
having had him at Malaga. The Argentine
keeper is unlikely to see a great deal of active
service barring injury - so could make the cut
as a dependable second in line to Hart.
Verdict: May get another season
Did you know? Caballero conceded two goals
in each of his two appearances yet still ended
up on the winning side in both games
(Sunderland and Hull).
Joe Hart (goalkeeper)
Age: 27; Signed: 2006 (£500,000);
Appearances: 30
Not at his best against Manchester United but
England's goalkeeper has maintained his form
this season while others around him have lost
theirs.
If, as expected, City reconstruct their squad
this summer, Hart will surely remain as a
centrepiece in the future.
Verdict: Certain to stay
Did you know? Hart has played more minutes
in the league (2,700) than any other player in
the City squad this season.
Gael Clichy (full-back)
Age: 29; Signed: 2011 (£7m); Appearances:
23; Goals: 1
Once a fine player with a good attitude but
past his best and City need to do better at
left-back if they are to reboot and challenge
for major honours next season.
Verdict: Fine as a deputy but not first choice.
Could be the summer to make a change.
Did you know? Clichy has the best success
rate of anyone to make 50-plus tackles at City
this season, 81%.
Martin Demichelis (centre-back)
Age: 34; Signed: 2013 (£4.2m); Appearances:
25; Goals: 1
Much derided at the start of his City career
but has been their best defender this season -
age may count against him if they decide to
give an ageing squad a fresh look.
Verdict: Done well for City and no hurry to
rush him out of the door but hardly a long-
term bet.
Did you know? Demichelis has made a team-
high 131 clearances in 2014-15.
Aleksandar Kolarov (full-back)
Age: 29; Signed: 2010 (£19m); Appearances:
15; Goals: 0
Now very much a peripheral figure and hard to
see how he would seriously play a part in any
long-term strategy.
Verdict: Time to go.
Did you know? Kolarov is yet to score a goal
this season, he has scored at least one in
each of his previous four campaigns with City.
Vincent Kompany (centre-back)
Age: 29; Signed: 2008 (£6m); Appearances:
23; Goals: 0
The club's inspirational leader and captain
has had a poor season punctuated by injuries
and loss of form that has revealed a
vulnerability that has not been in evidence
before.
Kompany, however, may benefit from a
summer without football following a hectic
schedule, including the World Cup, and City
will hope a period of rest can restore some of
his old powers.
Verdict: Too early to call time on a quality
defender and personality. Will still be around
next season.
Did you know? Kompany has been booked
more often (seven times) than any other City
player this season.
Eliaquim Mangala (centre-back)
Age: 24; Signed: 2014 (£32m); Appearances:
19; Goals: 0
Desperate disappointment after his £32m
move from Porto. The central defender has
looked ill-at-ease and unsuited to the rigours
of the Premier League - one of the signings
who pose questions over those making the
transfer decisions at the Etihad.
Verdict: Does not look up to the job and
cutting losses could be wise but who would
take him at anywhere near a price City might
accept so soon after paying such an
astronomical fee?
Did you know? Mangala has completed 94% of
his passes in his own half this season, the
best rate by any City defender.
Bacary Sagna (full-back)
Age: 32; Signed: 2014 (Free); Appearances: 9;
Goals: 0
Sagna is nearer the end of his career than the
start and is on a three-year deal after making
a free transfer move from Arsenal. He has
been trusted by Pellegrini in many of City's big
games in the Champions League but younger
options may be sought.
Unlikely to be a regular next season but could
still be of use - and would he get a better deal
elsewhere?
Verdict: Hardly one for the future but could
survive as a squad player.
Did you know? Sagna has made just nine
Premier League appearances in his debut
season with City, winning just four of those
games.
Pablo Zabaleta (full-back)
Age: 30; Signed: 2008 (£6.5m); Appearances:
23; Goals: 1
Not a vintage year for the Argentine right-
back who has been one of City's outstanding
performers in recent years and is a hugely
popular figure with their fans.
Zabaleta is made of stern stuff and will be
determined to put matters right next season
and prove he has not passed his peak.
Verdict: In the same category as Kompany. He
has been of such importance to City in their
years of success that it would be rash to cast
him aside after one indifferent season.
Did you know? Zabaleta is the only outfield
player for City to make more than five
appearances and not be either subbed on or
off this season.
Fernandinho (midfielder)
Age: 29; Signed: 2013 (£30m); Appearances:
27; Goals: 2
Not a spectacular player but reliable and
certainly counts as someone worth having
around in the squad. May not be so effective
against the truly top-class European
opposition but worth keeping.
Verdict: Should still be part of plans next
season.
Did you know? Fernandinho has contested
(347) and won (173) more duels than any
other player at the club this season.
Fernando (midfielder)
Age: 27; Signed: 2014 (£12m); Appearances:
21; Goals: 2
Another poor signing at £12m from Porto.
Looks sluggish and seems to be allergic to a
forward pass. What has he brought - or was
meant to bring - to City's team? This is a
question that has not been answered.
Verdict: Out if a buyer can be found.
Did you know? Fernando has a 62% win rate
this season, but when he has not played City
have a 46% win rate, winning just 5 of 11
when he has not featured.
James Milner (midfielder)
Age: 29; Signed: 2010 (£26m); Appearances:
27; Goals: 3
Excellent, under-rated player but could well be
on his way out at Manchester City after no
deal has been agreed on a new contract. A
manager's dream and there will be no
shortage of takers should he move on.
Verdict: Should be kept - but looks
increasingly like he will not be.
Did you know? Milner has been involved in
nine goals this season, a personal record for
him at City in a Premier League campaign.
Samir Nasri (midfielder)
Age: 27; Signed: 2011 (£24m); Appearances:
22; Goals: 2
The odd contribution apart, this has been a
season of under-achievement for a gifted
individual who should contribute so much
more than he does. This has mirrored City's
season and it may be patience has run out.
Verdict: Served his purpose at City and would
not be a huge loss if a good fee can be
recouped.
Did you know? City have had a 59% win rate
when Nasri has played this season but just
50% when he has been absent.
Jesus Navas (winger)
Age: 29; Signed: 2013 (£14.9m); Appearances:
30; Goals: 0
Highly prized on arrival from Sevilla but has
failed to deliver on his promise. The statistic
of 30 Premier League appearances this season
and no goals is damning.
Verdict: Could be in danger if the right offer
comes in. Now 29 and will not get any better.
Did you know? Navas has made a team-high
seven assists this season in the league.
Yaya Toure (midfielder)
Age: 31; Signed: 2010 (£24m); Appearances:
24; Goals: 8
The big dilemma - the driving force behind
City's years of success but has looked
laboured, jaded and occasionally disconnected
this season. He has looked a shadow of his
former self.
He has also failed to impose himself when City
have needed him. No-one should ever under-
estimate what he has done for City but the
time comes for everyone and it may have
come for Toure.
Verdict: If a club such as Inter Milan offer a
decent deal, time to sell and move on.
Did you know? Toure has made more touches
(2,456) than any other player in the squad
this season, ranking fifth league-wide in this
category.
David Silva (forward)
Age: 29; Signed: 2010 (£26m); Appearances:
26; Goals: 11
Maybe not quite touched the previous heights
this season but still a magical footballer
capable of making decisive contributions. A
player and personality who has graced the
Premier League and will continue to do so.
Verdict: Staying.
Did you know? Silva has created 77
goalscoring chances for his team-mates this
year, the most at City and only Eden Hazard
and Cesc Fabregas have created more in the
entire league.
Sergio Aguero (striker)
Age: 26; Signed: 2011 (£38m); Appearances:
27; Goals: 19
World-class, despite a failure to produce his
very best after picking up a knee injury in
December - something that hit City hard.
Aguero is as close to a guarantee of Premier
League goals as you can get and is crucial to
everything City want to achieve.
Verdict: Indispensable. Irreplaceable.
Did you know? Aguero has attempted more
shots (93) than any other player in the league
this season.
Wilfried Bony (striker)
Age: 26; Signed: 2015 (£28m); Appearances:
5; Goals: 1
Brought from Swansea City to give Manchester
City extra cutting edge but has made a slow
start then picked up an injury. He has,
however, proved his Premier League pedigree
and City will expect to see his best next
season.
Verdict: Part of the future.
Did you know? Bony has played just 219
minutes for City this season, making just two
starts and not completing 90 minutes once.
Edin Dzeko (striker)
Age: 29; Signed: 2011 (£27m); Appearances:
21; Goals: 4
Miserable season for the Bosnian whose goals
did so much to bring the title to Manchester
City - just four in 21 Premier League games
reflects his poor form.
The decision to bring in Bony for £25m from
Swansea City was perhaps an admission of
Dzeko's decline and reduced impact. Evidence
suggests City have had his best years.
Verdict: May just have outlived his usefulness
at the Etihad.
Did you know? Dzeko has just four goals so
far this season in 21 appearances, his last
three seasons saw him score 16, 14 and 14
goals respectively.
Stevan Jovetic (striker)
Age: 25; Signed: 2013 (£22m); Appearances:
17; Goals: 5
He is a gifted Montenegrin who has shown
quality in flashes but nowhere near often
enough. Lacks consistency and is another big
buy who has to be classed as a failure.
Verdict: On his way out.
Did you know? Jovetic has been involved in a
goal every 98 minutes for City (five goals,
three assists, 787 mins), only Aguero and
Frank Lampard have a better goal involvement
rate for the club.
Manuel Pellegrini (manager)
A season of disappointment for the manager
who brought the Premier League and League
Cup to Manchester City in his first season -
which means speculation about his future is
now inevitable.
If City, as is still a prospect, finish outside the
top four then it is impossible to see how he
can survive after such investment in his
squad.
And if City could somehow lure Bayern Munich
coach Pep Guardiola to the Etihad he would
also be in peril - no huge appetite for change
as yet but his prospects were not helped by
the manner of City's capitulation against
Manchester United.
Verdict: On thin ice. Uncertain times.
And who might City bring in?
Operating on a money-no-object wish list,
here are three players Manchester City might
love to add to their squad.
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
The brilliant France midfielder is the one who
got away from Manchester United - and it
could take £60m to prise the 22-year-old
away from Juventus.
Powerful, skilful and driven, he would be the
perfect addition to a City midfield that has
looked pedestrian this season.
Complication: If Juve show any inclination to
sell, an orderly queue will form, probably
including Real Madrid and possibly even
Manchester United.
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Just the sort of young English statement
signing that Pellegrini says City are looking to
make. He would add pace to City's attack and
be a creative force.
Complication: Despite an increasingly messy
and public contract impasse, Liverpool insist
he will not be sold this summer.
And when Liverpool owner John W Henry said
the same with Luis Suarez in 2013, he was
true to his word.
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
The sort of signing that would tell the football
world Manchester City mean business. For all
his supposed struggles at the Bernabeu, a
world-class talent.
Complication - Real insist he will not be sold
and Bale has expressed no wish to leave but
things change by the hour at the Bernabeu.
Also Bale has constantly been linked with
Manchester United should he return to the
Premier League. Chelsea would also show an
interest but City could match any financially.
All appearance stats are from the 2014-15
Premier League season