Which of these Manchester City stars are most under threat by Pep Guardiola’s arrival?

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Out: Kolarov / Sagna / Zabaleta / Clichy

The full-back situation is one that needs to be handled delicately. All of City’s first-team options in this position are over the age of 30 and realistically most of them shouldn’t be on the squad next year. The best thing to do would be for Pep to take his pick, one from each side, on who to keep in order to maintain maturity and experience in the squad and let two go. This may divide opinion but Kolarov and Zabaleta should be the ones to go. Kolarov is the easiest pick of the two because of the holes he leaves at the back, the false sense of ‘attacking option’ he gives the team which is actually just firing a meaningless ball into the box with one Sergio Aguero and four defenders around him, and his age. Zabaleta however is a tough call. He’s been such a loyal servant to the club, an honorary Mancunian, and a solid option no matter what, but his age and injury problems make him less valuable to the club and its future. Though Sagna had a mediocre first year, he’s been one of the stand-out defenders this season and doesn’t look to be slowing down. I’d personally love to see him stay, but there’s no need for three right-backs commanding high wages.

In: Aaron Cresswell / Seamus Coleman / Lucas Digne / Serge Aurier

Since Guardiola will most likely bring in at least one defender on either flank, young players that suit his system are a must. Aaron Cresswell has impressed with West Ham both this season and last. The pacey defender likes to get forward, creating an astonishing 29 chances this season at left-back. The English international isn’t a liability in defense either, with 47 interceptions made in the league already.

Seamus Coleman is cut of a similar cloth, but with more of an emphasis on defending. For the past season or so, Coleman has been a stalwart at the back of the Evertonian defence, putting in consistent performances at right back.

Lucas Digne is making the best of his requested loan move away from the french capital at Roma. After not getting much playing time even though he showed great potential, the young frenchman has nailed down a starting spot in the roman outfit. Surprisingly, the 5’10” defender has won 69% of his aerial duels in the physical Serie A this season.

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Serge Aurier is an extremely physical Ivorian right back that plies his trade at PSG, although his time at the French champions elect appears certain to come to an end after an extraordinary personal attack directed at his manager recently. The African international loves to get forward and has all the physical attributes to succeed in the Premier League. Aurier has made 62 interceptions, completed 88% of his 970 passes, and won 54 tackles this season. These are some pretty incredible stats, in fact the highest out of the five defenders, but one must take into account that Ligue 1 is generally considered as the weakest league in Europe’s top five.

Personally, I’d like to see Cresswell and Coleman in the side because they offer defensive stability and have experience in the premier league. Cresswell is also considered homegrown which makes him that much more valuable. Many City fans complain that Kolarov being out of the side makes the attack lose a dimension, but the ‘chances’ Kolarov creates don’t necessarily suit the attacking style of Aguero or Bony. Regardless of that, the onus to create chances should be on the forwards and midfielders. If a full-back can create a chance a few times a game all the better, but it shouldn’t be a consistent go to since City don’t have an aerial target man.