Three Man City stars could face January transfer decision

Three Man City stars could face January transfer decision - 'something has to change'

Manchester City news as trio of Blues players face World Cup dilemma

Manchester City head into the international break in buoyant mood after a seven-game unbeaten run, but for some of their players this week is a brutal reminder of tough transfer decisions that might need to be made.

The Blues have reshaped their squad in 2025 with a host of new signings and nearly £400million spent. It's given the City first XI a different look with Gianluigi Donnarumma and Tijjani Reijnders certain starters and the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush expected to play plenty of minutes this term.

But the clutch of calendar year arrivals has left some City fall-guys, and it could cost a trio of stars a World Cup spot.

James Trafford arrived in the summer eyeing a battle to be City number one with Ederson, but within a matter of weeks had been relegated to second choice with his club, meaning his international ambitions of usurping Jordan Pickford have suffered a dent.

Trafford is in Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad for games against Wales and Latvia over the coming week, and may well retain his spot as a Three Lions squad stopper even without regular minutes at the Etihad. But there is no doubt the 22-year-old is in a vulnerable international position 10 months out from the World Cup.

That could force him to assess his options in the January transfer window, albeit the chances of City selling a keeper they hold in high regard seem non-existent. A loan move could potentially be more viable for the former Burnley man but it remains to be seen what his short-term future holds at both club and international level.

It's a similar story for Rico Lewis, who has been capped by England and had forced himself into a starting spot 12 months ago. But the 20-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at City with Mathues Nunes, John Stones and Khusanov all preferred to him at right back in recent weeks.

It means Lewis has fallen out of the senior England reckoning and this month is in Lee Carsley's Under-21 squad. The full back signed a contract extension last month at City and is another for who a permanent departure seems unlikely mid-season.

The picture is perhaps a bit clearer for Nathan Ake after the Netherlands international was told by Dutch boss Ronald Koeman that retaining a spot in his squad while not playing regular football will not be possible.

Koeman has called the 31-year-old up for the October internationals but has made his stance clear on the future and the prospect of Ake making a World Cup squad if the current state of play continues.

“We’ve talked about it. Something has to change,” said Koeman, adding: “You can’t hardly play and still be part of a national team. Match practice is part of that,” Koeman.

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