Mass Man City exodus talked up as Barcelona target five top-class stars who are ‘disgruntled’ with Pep Guardiola

Manchester City could lose five senior players to Barcelona as all of them are ‘disgruntled’ with their situation at the Etihad and with Pep Guardiola too.

City have only brought in one new signing so far this month. They captured 20-year-old midfielder Maximo Perrone from Argentinian side Velez Sarsfield.

Perrone cost City £8.2million, according to Manchester Evening News, and has penned a contract lasting until June 2028.

While Perrone has arrived in Manchester to improve Guardiola’s midfield options, City could lose some of their most important players this year.

According to Sport Witness, who cite reports coming out of Spain, Barcelona are interested in snapping up five Citizens stars.

The first is playmaker Bernardo Silva. Barcelona have been linked with Silva before, and it seems they are back on his trail.

It would not be a surprise if the Portuguese left City in the next year or two. He has been open about his desire to take part in a new challenge, should such an opportunity come about.

The report claims Ilkay Gundogan is also on Xavi’s wish list at Barca. Gundogan’s City deal expires in the summer and Barca are hoping to capitalise on this by taking him to Spain for a reduced price.

Barcelona hope to replace Eric Garcia with another Man City signing

Barca officials have decided they will let former City centre-back Eric Garcia go as he is not up to scratch. And they are now planning another City raid for his replacement, with defender Aymeric Laporte wanted.

Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker make up the rest of Barca’s transfer shopping list.

The main reason Barca are interested in landing them is because they have become ‘disgruntled’ with the goings on at City and with Guardiola as well.

It is claimed the dressing room is fractured, as some of the big names in the squad are not getting along.

Guardiola is apparently failing to get things in order, which is why those five names have become frustrated with him too.

There is certainly a possibility that one or two of these players could join Barca this summer, particularly Gundogan and Silva.

Report may be exaggerating Guardiola problems

However, it would be a surprise if the City dressing room is as sour as the report is making out. After all, City are still in with a shout of winning three trophies this campaign.

They may be five points behind Arsenal in the Premier League, having played an extra game, but Guardiola’s men are one of the few teams capable of putting up a winning run that could send them above the Gunners.

City are also still in the FA Cup, where they will come up against Arsenal in the fourth round.

Then there is the Champions League. To win this with City is Guardiola’s ultimate aim, and it could be the reason why he extended his contract there in November last year.

City have a good chance of reaching the last eight, too. They will be favourites against RB Leipzig in the round of 16.

Not only are City in the running for several trophies, but Guardiola is one of the few coaches capable of dealing with a plethora of world-class players. As such, it is unlikely his squad is truly fractured. Instead, it may just be that one or two players hope to move on at the end of the season.