Manchester City don't need 'major surgery' this summer, says Pellegrini

Posted Saturday, May 23, 2015 by ESPN

Manuel Pellegrini has insisted Manchester City do not need a clear-out as he claims "major surgery" will not be performed on his squad in the postseason.

While City are facing up to a summer of change, manager Pellegrini is adamant that they do not need to rip up a team that will finish in the top two for a fourth successive season.

Sunday's match against Southampton could be a final City appearance for several of his players, with Frank Lampard certain to join New York City FC and James Milner out of contract in the summer and wanted by Liverpool, Arsenal and several foreign clubs.

In addition, Yaya Toure is a target for Inter Milan and the midfielder's agent has said he is "90 percent certain" to leave while Aleksandar Kolarov has stated he would be tempted by a return to Serie A and Stevan Jovetic, who admitted his omission from City's Champions League squad "killed" him, has barely featured since then and has attracted interest in the past from Italian clubs.

Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri have both been tipped to leave, while Alvaro Negredo, Matija Nastasic and Scott Sinclair's loan moves will all become permanent deals when the transfer window reopens.

City are also expected to be busy buyers, with Paul Pogba and Kevin de Bruyne among their targets and the former Premier League champions monitoring players including Jay Rodriguez and Danny Rose.

But Pellegrini said in a news conference: "There will not be major surgery because I don't think we need it. It is important to have some new faces. We will try every year to have a stronger squad.

"All the clubs, not just this club, must make changes at the end of the season. My words would be exactly the same if we won the title. It is important every year to make some changes we will see which changes."

Pellegrini has criticised Toure's outspoken agent, Dimitri Seluk, for his outbursts and City are expected to be among the bidders for Raheem Sterling, whose representative, Aidy Ward, is involved in a public dispute with Liverpool.

And Pellegrini warned him: "I don't think the agent should be trying to talk about all important things about their players. They must be very clear about what the club needs also."

The City manager confirmed that Nasri, who has had a groin injury, and Milner, even though he could leave the club, will both go on their postseason tour of the United States and Canada.