Nathan Ake and Trossard respond as Jeremy Doku ‘touches down’ at new destination
Jeremy Doku had a six-word message for his team-mates after Manchester City’s disappointing season came to an end.
Man City may have recovered towards the back end of the campaign and secured Champions League football via a third-placed Premier League finish, but went without silverware for the first time since 2017.
Pep Guardiola‘s side dropped as low as seventh in the table amid a run of one win in nine games halfway through the campaign, and suffered early exits in both the EFL Cup and Champions League knockouts.
City’s FA Cup Final loss to Crystal Palace confirmed only a second trophyless season for Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, and that’s likely to give way to a summer overhaul with several players’ futures in doubt.
The likes of John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish could all be shown the door this summer, and the latter duo’s departures could see one of Guardiola’s more recent signings thrust into the limelight.
Man City star Doku ‘ready to work’ on international duty
Although Man City’s season has been one of disappointment, this summer’s Club World Cup provides a potential silver lining for Guardiola to collect another piece of silverware and hefty prize money to boot.
Man City have already laid the groundwork to complete two new signings before the competition kicks off, but several of their star players have international duty to contend with first and foremost this month.
Doku is one of those and joined his departing captain Kevin De Bruyne in Belgium’s camp on Monday, before posting on Instagram (2 June) with a message which read: “Touched down and ready to work”.
City team-mate Nathan Ake and Belgium compatriot Leandro Trossard both liked Doku’s post, as the 23-year-old prepares for matches against North Macedonia and Wales before the Club World Cup kicks off.
Man City to rebuild on borrowed time this summer
Although Man City and Chelsea successfully lobbied to create a split transfer window this summer, the Club World Cup will still leave Guardiola pressed for time as he looks to overhaul an aging Blues squad.
City have already made inroads in their efforts to sign a new left-back in the form of Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri, but it remains to be seen if Guardiola is even able to truly integrate any new signings this summer.
A proposed swap deal for Morgan Gibbs-White with Grealish or James McAtee as potential makeweights won’t come easily, and a reduced pre-season will also complicate Guardiola’s efforts to prepare his new-look team for the start of next term.