Manchester City defensive duo expected to leave in 2026 as replacements identified

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are heading towards a double alteration at the heart of their defence in the summer of 2026, it has been reported.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium are facing major decisions over contracts in the summer, with John Stones and Bernardo Silva approaching the end of their respective deals and no indication at present of talks over a renewal for either.

Stones has endured a torrid time with injuries in the last 18 months, with the 31-year-old defender currently sidelined a leg injury he sustained in early December, with Manchester City searching the January market for reinforcements after recent injuries to Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.

Nathan Ake has been a prominent feature since the New Year and is expected to play a key role for Pep Guardiola in the second half of the season, but the 30-year-old Dutchman has been linked with an exit this month amid doubts over his prospects for Netherlands ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

City need as many legs as they can get in defence beyond January, with Dias sidelined for at least another month and Gvardiol set for a lengthy layoff on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his right leg – having come off against Chelsea earlier this month with a tibial fracture.

Ake was believed to be considering his club future ahead of the January window, though a transfer to lower-placed clubs in the English top-flight is not understood to be appealing to the four-time Premier League winner.

Guardiola has admitted that a decision on Stones’ future will be made by reviewing his minutes in recent seasons, though the Manchester City manager could be more keen to retain Ake – who is under contract till 2027 – beyond the current season.

However, The Athletic’s Sam Lee has reported that it is expected that Stones and Ake will leave Manchester City in the upcoming summer, while first-team sources have said that recently-recalled 20-year-old centre-back Max Alleyne could now stay with the first-team.

After securing the arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth last week, City have intensified their pursuit of Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi in what remains of the ongoing transfer window.

It is claimed that the thinking within the Etihad Stadium is that City could sign a defender this month – amid links to Guehi – to make an instant impact and effectively replace Stones or Ake before they actually leave, while Alleyne could succeed the other.

There is a belief in some quarters that Guehi is leaning towards staying at Palace until the summer, when he will be out of contract and due a major signing bonus at his next club, a major deciding factor over his club future amid strong interest from Manchester City.

City are ready to test Crystal Palace’s resolve and Guehi’s desire to stay in south London beyond January with a formal bid for the 25-year-old, who could be available for upwards of £35 million in the coming weeks.