Two Man City players handed transfer exit message by Pep Guardiola calls

Pep Guardiola still has a squad that is too big for him at Manchester City and the club need to sell players in the next two weeks.

Pep Guardiola used all five subs at Wolves and made some interesting selection calls

Perhaps things would have been different if Manchester City weren't in cruise control at Molineux, but some players might have left the Midlands on Saturday night seeing the writing on the wall for their Etihad careers.

In a squad deprived of at least three players who would normally be guaranteed of involvement - Josko Gvardiol, Rodri and Phil Foden, as well as Savinho, if he stays at the club, the 20 involved against Wolves could have been forgiven for looking over their shoulders.

With Pep Guardiola using all five substitutes, a glimmer of a hierarchy became visible. Nico O'Reilly's introduction in midfield for Bernardo Silva felt telling, with the hint that the academy graduate would get game time in his preferred position this season.

He also came on ahead of the vastly more experienced Ilkay Gundogan. The 34-year-old is one of those players hovering close to the exit door this summer, and this could have been a message from Guardiola that he will struggle to get minutes. If O'Reilly is coming on ahead of him, then Gundogan's place in the pecking order has fallen further.

Gundogan played well in the Club World Cup after a tough first season back at the club, but Nico Gonzalez started ahead of him at Wolves in the No. 6 role, and Mateo Kovacic will also be ahead of him when he returns from injury. City have too many options in midfield and need someone to leave, and Galatasaray showed an interest in Gundogan earlier in the window.

There was a similar changing of the guard in defence. Just after Rayan Cherki made it 4-0, John Stones, after a promising return, was withdrawn and replaced by 21-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov. That left Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake kicking their heels on the bench.

City are well-stocked in the centre of defence, so one of them could also leave to reduce numbers. Ake's status as a homegrown player might protect him, but Akanji, 30, is certainly a candidate to be sold before the window shuts on September 1.

Selling players has been a struggle for City this summer. James McAtee has completed his move to Nottingham Forest, and Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish have also gone, but more need to follow.

When Guardiola was asked about his squad after the win at Wolves, it was telling that he immediately chose to highlight the fact that it remained too bloated.

"Too much. Too many people," he said. "It’s not about Eddy, today was Rodri and Phil and Kovacic and Savinho and Josko. On the bench we had Nathan and Gundo.

"I like a deep squad to compete in all competitions but I don’t want to leave players at home. It’s not healthy. You cannot create a good vibe or atmosphere to compete.

"The club has known it since last season but the situation is what it is. In the next two weeks, people will talk with players and agents to find a solution."

Guardiola's own decisions on Saturday might have been designed to send a message to players and agents to find those solutions. He will be desperate to see numbers reduced.

Departures look most likely in the centre of defence and midfield, but getting players to leave isn't always easy. As the clock ticks down, some might begin to realise that their days are numbered at the Etihad. When Gvardiol returns, Akanji might be frozen out. When Foden is back, Gundogan might be left at home.

At the end of the day, players want to play, and even if leaving City is difficult, the writing is on the wall.