Five facing the exit

Yaya Toure
Guardiola has sold him once before - from Barcelona to Manchester City in 2010 - and at 32, he has slowed visibly this season.

Jesus Navas
Thinks, runs, plays in straight lines - the polar opposite to the identikit Guardiola footballer.

Aleksandar Kolarov
Is suspect defensively and also lacks the prerequisite demanded by Guardiola - a sweet first touch that can turn a game as much as a pass, shot or tackle.

Fernando
As Sergio Busquets illustrated, there is room for a destroyer in a Guardiola side but Fernando lacks the craft the Barcelona player also offers.

Wilfried Bony
Guardiola seems suspicious of dedicated strikers and one who has so far not been prolific at City appears expendable.

Five who can flourish

Sergio Aguero Has a champion's mentality, a world-class technique and cannot stop scoring.

David Silva
If Guardiola was to build his perfect creative forward, he would surely come up with one close to the 30-year-old.

Kevin de Bruyne
His 12 goals and 12 assists for City shows he is built for the Premier League and Champions League and, at 24, he will only become better.

Raheem Sterling
Given the player's driven mentality, Guardiola will know he can work with him to try to lift him into the elite class.

Joe Hart
The goalkeeper has been near-faultless and may do for Guardiola's City what Manuel Neuer has done for the Spaniard's Bayern Munich.

Five who may be targeted

Thiago Alcantara
The 24-year-old is the kind of one-touch operator Guardiola looks for, as illustrated when he bought him from Barca in the summer of 2013.

Marcelo
City are desperate to improve their left-back position and the Real Madrid and Brazil defender with Champions League and La Liga titles on his CV would fit the bill.

Paul Pogba
City continue to target the powerhouse midfielder and with Guardiola in place, it will surely become easier to acquire a man who can dominate contests.

John Stones
Guardiola may look at the playmaking Everton centre-back and be reminded of Gerard Pique, whom he signed from Manchester United in 2008 and made into one supreme defender.

Philippe Coutinho
When fit, the Brazilian's vision and zest allow him to unlock the opposition for Liverpool - a quality usually found in a Guardiola team.

THE GUARDIAN