'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Cole Palmer
The second Manchester City academy prospect on our list, Cole Palmer has had a breakout Premier League 2 campaign for City's U23 team. He scored 13 times and bagged a further six assists.
Along with Delap, Palmer was one of the few youngsters who were handed first-team debuts by Guardiola. To fans' delight, the technically gifted central midfielder recently penned down a 5-year contract extension that'll keep him at City until 2026.
However, a long-term deal doesn't assure a player's future at a club. With the City Football Group constantly taking more and more clubs under their wings, the Citizens have a habit of sending academy players on loan to their sister clubs.
That is to ensure that their progress isn't hampered due to a lack of first-team opportunities. But in some cases, this practice causes the player in question to live out all of his contract, away from the parent club. Patrick Roberts' City career is a perfect example of the same.
Nevertheless, the young Englishman has earned his manager's trust to an extent, with Guardiola reportedly labelling Palmer as 'incredible'.
Palmer's ability to play in multiple positions is his biggest asset. His brilliant touch, coupled with his dribbling skills and eye for goal make him an ideal candidate for Guardiola's intricate system. If Palmer is able to prove his worth in the upcoming pre-season, his future at City could be secured for a while.
#2 Nathan Ake
One area that has always troubled Manchester City ever since Vincent Kompany left the club to rejoin Anderlecht in 2019 is the centre of defence.
City's defence has always stuck out like a sore thumb in an otherwise exceptional cast, until last season. Ruben Dias' addition transformed Stones and established a formidable defensive partnership. However, this meant that the rest of the City defenders were hung out to dry.
No one suffered the consequences of this formation more so than Nathan Ake. While Eric Garcia departed the club to move to Barcelona, Aymeric Laporte's stock has never been in question. If the Spanish international feels he is being undervalued, he will find a string of suitors ready to snatch him away from City's hands. This isn't the case for Ake, though.
The Dutch defender was finally thrown a lifeline by the Sky Blues when they rescued him from second-tier obscurity for a fee of €46 million. He was expected to battle John Stones for a starting spot alongside Laporte. But after an unexpected turn of events, Ake is currently the fourth-choice centre-back at City.
No longer a young prospect at 26 years of age, the former Chelsea graduate will soon be entering his prime years. A 13-game debut season is certainly not what Ake would have expected when he signed with the Cityzens. Only time will tell how his City career pans out.
#1 Benjamin Mendy
How the mighty have fallen. An integral member of the legendary 2016-17 Monaco squad, Benjamin Mendy earned a €60 million move to Manchester City on the back of a solid season at the famous Ligue 1 club. But four years and a horde of injuries later, Mendy's role at City has been reduced to that of a bit-part player.
Guardiola has tried his level best to incorporate the French full-back into his team, but to no avail. Even when fully fit, Mendy has a game that lacks finesse, and he is prone to making high-profile errors. In contrast, when Oleksandr Zinchenko is deployed in his place, the team performs considerably better.
The 24-year-old Ukrainian is much more comfortable with the ball at his feet and can easily slot into midfield during progressional play. That meant Mendy was restricted to just 20 appearances in all competitions last season. His constant knee problems mean that Mendy still hasn't completed 50 Premier League games after spending four seasons in the league.
With Zinchenko fitting in brilliantly in Guardiola's 'Positional Play', Mendy's role as a rotational option has been firmly established.
At 27, the former Le Havre man does not have time on his side. His market value has already dropped to €23 million, a far cry from the fee City paid to acquire his services. Maybe a decent pre-season is what the Frenchman needs to revive his career.
