Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has hinted that he is ready to make widespread changes to his squad this summer.
The Citizens were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in the knockout round playoffs on Wednesday night, while they are down in fourth spot in the Premier League table, some 17 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Man City are only a point clear of fifth-placed Bournemouth, while they sit just three points ahead of seventh-placed Newcastle United, with the team facing missing out on European football altogether for next season.
A recent report claimed that the Citizens are prepared to let seven first-team stars leave this summer, with Jack Grealish, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan all potentially moving on.
Guardiola has explained the importance of being available for selection when discussing his squad, suggesting that those who continue to have fitness issues will not be a part of the long-term project.
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Grealish, De Bruyne, Bernardo are among those who could leave Man City this summer
"We have to sit down with the doctors, the players, agents and be clear that some of them cannot sustain playing every three days," Guardiola told reporters during his press conference on Friday.
"This is the reality. A lot of players cannot sustain what we have done in the past every week in, week out. Playing in different competitions, travel without the problems. You tell me where my concern is? Just that.
"We deserve to have a bad season, it can happen. The reality is for the future if we want to be there again, in the latter stages of the Champions League, we need players fit and available. Of course I am concerned.
"It can happen sometimes but already it happens many times. It's so, so demanding - the teams are quicker, faster, stronger and we cannot handle it right now. I remember before the first leg against Madrid we had all central defenders back and I said, "guys, now you will see". One week later, two central defenders out for months. The season has been like that."
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Will Haaland be available for Man City against Liverpool?
Haaland missed out against Real Madrid on Wednesday due to a minor knee problem, and Guardiola could not guarantee that the Norway international would be available to take on Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.
"I don't know yet. Tomorrow we'll know it, I don't know yet. Yeah, maybe [I'm hopeful], but I don't know because we don't train today. Tomorrow he will have a [late fitness] test," said Guardiola when asked about his leading goalscorer.
Stones, meanwhile, could require an operation due to the thigh problem that forced him off early against Real Madrid; Rodri and Manuel Akanji are also currently on the sidelines for the Citizens.
Man City are currently preparing for successive league games against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur before hosting Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round of the FA Cup on March 1.
Matt Law
