Pep Guardiola facing race against time to axe FIVE stars as UEFA rules cause major issue

Manchester City are facing a race against time to trim their squad to meet both Premier League and Champions League requirements.

Pep Guardiola has made it clear that he feels he has too many players - but the need to cut numbers is also being driven by the prospect of having to leave bodies out of the manager’s plans completely.

City currently have 32 players in their first-team squad - and although Premier League rules on homegrown players and those aged under 21 means they only have to make one sale before the transfer window closes, different regulations in Europe means as many as five players need to leave.

So while City’s recruitment drive appears over after a summer in which they have added Rayan Cherki, Rayan Air-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Sverre Nypan and keepers James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli to their numbers, new director of football Hugo Viana still has work to do.

Guardiola has been clear that he doesn’t want to manage a bloated squad because he fears leaving players on the sidelines for too long allows dressing room frustrations to fester.

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Newcastle confirm Isak stance, Arsenal ace wants exit, Man Utd complete deal

READ MORE: Rodri could leave Man City as club sweat on decision after worrying Pep Guardiola update

City have told Jack Grealish, James McAtee, Kalvin Phillips and keeper Stefan Ortega that they can leave if the right offer comes along. Grealish is attracting interest from Everton and Napoli, but the Blues may be forced to accept a loan deal that would see them subsidise the £300,000-a-week wages of a player who cost them £100million.

McAtee is emerging as a potential target for Tottenham following the injury to James Maddison, while both Nottingham Forest and Eintracht Frankfurt have already been informed that they will have to pay close to £40million for the England Under-21 captain after the German club were told their initial £25million enquiry was not enough.

There is also interest in the Bundesliga for Ortega, the keeper who wants a move to stake a claim for a place in Germany’s World Cup squad. And while £42million misfit Phillips is on the radar of former club Leeds after a season spent on loan at Ipswich, the midfielder’s £120,000-a-week wages are an issue.

How will Man City do this season? Share your predictions in the comments below

The future of all three players could go right to the wire on September 1, with interested clubs looking to test City’s resolve on how the numbers add up.

Viana is also progressing loan deals for a trio of foreign talents in Claudio Echeverri, Vitor Reis and Nypan, with sister club Girona interested in all three.

Guardiola has continued to insist that his policy on keeping a limit on squad numbers needs to be maintained despite seeing City’s season undermined by a succession of injuries to key players.

Losing midfield kingpin Rodri for most of the Premier League campaign was a huge blow - and the Ballon d’Or winner is once again sidelined by a groin problem he suffered at the Club World Cup.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.