Who’s Heading For The Eastlands Exit Door?

It is clear that Roberto Mancini has the Premiership title in mind as well as the other trophies the blues could aim for this season and is building a squad capable of achieving this. 

Boateng, Silva and Toure have arrived and with them the promise of more signings to come. But The City squad is starting to look a little heavy and it is obvious some players will have to make way. So as the new boys arrive, who’s going to be passing them on the way out?

 Stephen Ireland

 

The former Player of the Year’s days look numbered as Roberto Mancini brings some extra steel and talent to the midfield. And with the blues still rumoured to be chasing James Milner, Ireland could be used in part exchange and link up again with another former star in Richard Dunne.

Shaun Wright-Phillips

SWP’s City career looked to be over the moment the winger’s step father Ian opened his mouth and accused the club of treating SWP like a ‘youth team player.’ SWP re-signed or the club following under former manager Mark Hughes but has struggled to hold down a regular starting place under Mancini and with the arrival in January of Adam Johnson and, more recently, David Silva, SWP will probably find himself following fellow winger Martin Petrov from Eastlands.

Nedum Onuoha

After publicly slating Mancini, Onuoha has been the subject of much speculation, most notably from Newcastle. The defender could have still had a future at Eastlands before his outburst but is more likely to be sold before the end of the transfer window or at the very least, go out on loan.

Javier Garrido

The last remaining signing from Sven, Garrido only made seven Premier League starts last season and, if he doesn’t leave, will stay a fringe player at best. But the 25 year old will want to push for a place in Spain’s squad for the 2012 European Championships and may see the only way of forcing his way into their plans is to play regular first team football, meaning a move away from Manchester.

Roque Santa Cruz

Roque has had a bit of a bad time since signing from Blackburn and, personally, I think he should be given another season to prove his worth, but I don’t think it will happen. Roque made 22 appearances last season, but 15 came from the subs bench. He score four goals, which hardly justifies his price tag and, with Mancini wanting to pair leading scorer Carlos Tevez with either Edin Dzeko or Mario Ballotelli, Roque is likely to be used as a makeweight for any potential future deal.

Joleon Lescott

A bit of a surprise maybe, but Lescott may well find himself pushed out if Mancini decides to play Boateng at centre back alongside Kolo Toure. The England man missed a lot of games last season through injury and that cost him a place in the England squad, not that it would have made much difference. An injury free season could well push him back into contention, but how long can an injury prone player stay injury free?

Craig Bellamy

The fiery Welshman has supposedly had a series of bust-ups with Mancini but it didn’t seem to stop the Italian from picking Bellamy regularly. But it is hard to see where Bellers will fit into next season’s set up and Spurs are rumoured to be close to signing him. If he goes though, it will more than likely be a decision Mancini will live to regret.

Shay Given

Another surprise candidate to the list but considering the fact Mancini will not allow Joe Hart to go on loan again and has re-signed Stuart Taylor is an indication that he feels it might be time for a change between the sticks. The Ireland keeper isn’t getting any younger and that must play on Mancini’s mind, together with the fact that Hart will never be England’s number one if he doesn’t play regularly. I think he’d rather allow Given to leave than risk losing Hart to a Premiership rival.

Agree or disagree? Would you miss any of these palyers?