Manchester City transfer news: Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta could leave Etihad after contract talks are shelved
The defenders are all in the last year of their deals and must prove themselves if they are to earn a new contract
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MANCHESTER City could release full-backs Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy next summer after contract talks were shelved with the three of them.
The trio are in the final year of their current deals and Pep Guardiola has told them they must prove themselves in his new style of play to get new contracts.
The defenders are all over the age of 30 and City believe they have youngsters who can replace them next season.
An Etihad source said: “There are no talks in pipeline to discuss possible contract extensions for Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy.
“All three are out of contract next summer but all given a reprieve by Pep Guardiola to prove themselves this season.
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“They are all over the age of 30 and with youngsters Pablo Maffeo and Angelino also knocking on the first-team door, City are biding their time.”
Guardiola has already shown he has no problems axing City's star after Joe Hart was loaned out to Torino and Yaya Toure was frozen out of the squad.
The three full-backs have been starters at the Etihad for a number of seasons.
But they have been forced into a new holding midfield-style system by the ex-Barcelona and Bayern boss since he came in the summer.
Argentinian Zabaleta, 31, joined City from Espanyol in 2008 for £6.45m and has made 211 appearances for the club.
Sagna, 30, who starred for France in Euro 2016, came from Arsenal in 2014 on a free and has played 38 times.
And Clichy also joined from the Gunners in 2011 for £7m – making 113 appearances so far.