Pep Guardiola Excludes Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Akanji from Tottenham Squad

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has left both Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Akanji out of his squad to face Tottenham on Saturday, intensifying speculation that the pair could be close to leaving the club before the transfer deadline.

Background

Gundogan, 34, has been linked with a return to the Bundesliga, while interest from Serie A and other leagues remains active. Akanji, meanwhile, has attracted strong attention from Galatasaray, who are reported to have met City’s valuation.

Transfer Market Context

The omissions come amid ongoing speculation around other City players. Savinho is being targeted by Tottenham, while Ederson, Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Claudio Echeverri have all been mentioned in transfer discussions this summer.

Matchday Squad vs Tottenham

City’s starting XI was as follows: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Ait-Nouri; Nico, Reijnders, Cherki; Bobb, Haaland, Marmoush. Substitutes included Ederson, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly, Rodri, Foden, Bernardo, and Doku.

FAQs

• Why were Gundogan and Akanji left out? No official reason given, but speculation points to potential transfers.
• Who could replace Gundogan? City invested in midfield options Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez this summer.
• What is Akanji’s status? Galatasaray are confident of securing his signature.
• How many days remain in the transfer window? Only a few days remain, making developments likely soon.

Conclusion

The exclusion of Gundogan and Akanji from Guardiola’s squad list may serve as a major hint that Manchester City are preparing for significant departures before the close of the transfer window.