Manchester City have paved the way for a radical overhaul of their squad this summer by releasing Jesus Navas, Willy Caballero and Bacary Sagna.
They revealed the trio will go, taking the total of players in their thirties leaving the Etihad Stadium to five, with Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy having already announced they were departing the club.
Each of the quintet is out of contract this summer, along with Yaya Toure, whose future remains unresolved but who is keen to extend his seven-season stay at Manchester.
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With Joe Hart likely to be sold, Caballero’s release means City will probably try to sign a new goalkeeper while, with all three of Navas, Zabaleta and Sagna going, they may require two right-backs unless manager Pep Guardiola promotes youngster Pablo Maffeo or uses midfielder Fernandinho in defence more often.
They are also expected to pursue a central defender and a first-choice left-back in a spending spree that could also include an extra attacker and which is intended to produce a younger, quicker squad.
Caballero, who had hoped to stay, will be remembered for earning City their last trophy by making a hat-trick of saves in the penalty shoot-out in the 2016 League Cup final against Liverpool.
The Argentine was signed by former manager Manuel Pellegrini from his old club Malaga but spent much of his three years in Manchester understudying first Hart and then Claudio Bravo.
Winger Navas was another Pellegrini recruit and another to experience success in the League Cup.
He scored his penalty in the shoot-out against Liverpool and managed City’s third goal in the 2014 final win over Sunderland.
While the World Cup winner did not find the net in the Premier League in his last three-and-a-half years in England, he struck twice in the 6-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, including a fine opener after 14 seconds.
He made 183 appearances in his four years at City and is now expected to rejoin his old club Sevilla.
Right-back Sagna arrived on a free transfer from Arsenal in 2014 and went on to play 85 games, becoming a regular in 2015/16 as City reached the Uefa Champions League semi-finals for the first time.
Director of football Txiki Begiristain paid tribute to each, telling the club website: “Bacary is an outstanding professional and has always set a wonderful example with his dedication and commitment.
“Willy is a special man – and his performances this season were of a consistently high standard.
“Working with Jesus has been a pleasure. His hard work, dedication, professionalism and desire to win have been apparent every single day.”
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