O'Rourke: Time will be right in summer for Man City's 'good servant' to leave

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake looks set to leave the club this summer after Marc Guehi’s arrival pushed him down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order.

Guehi has instantly become a regular starter for Man City and has played 11 times since joining from Crystal Palace in January.

Ake has started just two of City’s last nine games in all competitions, as a result, despite being linked away from the club in the winter with Everton and West Ham both reportedly interested.

He now looks set to leave the club in the summer due to Guehi and Ruben Dias being Pep Guardiola’s preferred centre-back pairing, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast.

Man City’s transfer plans are taking shape as they aim to compete on all fronts once again next term, and Ake is not set to be part of their squad, with an exit on the radar.

Nathan Ake set to leave Man City in search of increased game time

Ake was handed a rare start ahead of the injured Guehi in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, and he put in a strong performance to help City lift the trophy.

Such a fine showing is likely to alert interested teams to the 31-year-old’s potential availability, with City wanting to sell before he can depart for free at the end of his contract next summer.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “It could be the right time, maybe, for a parting of the ways for both parties. Ake has been a good servant to Man City.

“He did have interest in the January window, but Man City couldn’t let him leave with injuries to Ruben Dias and others.

“Just four starts in the Premier League, which I’m sure will be frustrating for Ake, and obviously following the January arrival of Marc Guehi, it’s increased competition for places.

“It will be difficult for Ake to break back in as a starter in that City team, so maybe he will feel at this stage of his career, he might need to move on in search of regular first-team football.”

Omar Marmoush could force Man City exit in summer window

Marmoush was left on the bench for City’s cup success on Sunday, and he has struggled for consistent minutes throughout this season under Guardiola.

The Egypt forward has netted just once in 17 Premier League appearances so far, with links away from the club arising in January as Aston Villa plotted a move to sign him.

Uncertainty is looming around his future ahead of the summer window, but Football Insider have exclusively revealed that City have no plans to let Marmoush leave.

They do not want to weaken their forward options anytime soon, but Marmoush may well take his future into his own hands and demand a move away if he continues to be overlooked in the coming months.

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