With a new manager moving into the City hot seat this summer, whoever takes up the reins will inherit a squad lacking immediate success and in some cases, ability.
Manuel Pellegrini is hotly-tipped as the man to lead City forward, but clearing out the deadwood is a must if the charismatic Chilean is to engineer success at the Etihad.
Italian Roberto Mancini leaves behind a squad full of international stars, but many have shown this season that when push comes to shove, they cower in the corner.
The signings of last summer are probably a good place to start, as those new faces – apart from Matija Nastasic – have failed to regularly contribute to the City cause.
Brazilian full-back Maicon arrived with a sterling reputation, but he has made just four Premier League starts and seems all too happy to play second fiddle to Pablo Zabaleta.
In truth, the extravagant defender cannot justify his exceptionally high wages for a handful of mediocre appearances, especially with Micah Richards waiting in the wings.
The 24-year old England international will be looking to re-ignite his career following a season blighted by injury and that should spell the end of Maicon’s Manchester stay.
Spaniard Javi Garcia has failed to set the world alight following his deadline day move, appearing only as a carbon-copy of midfield enforcer Gareth Barry.
When played together, City lack a creative spark from midfield – placing greater pressure on Yaya Toure – and generally struggle to impose themselves on games.
If Barry is set to continue his glistening City career, there is no space for Garcia as he has failed to exert any influence in his role as a combative midfielder.
He was highly regarded before his City move and one would suspect there are plenty of other teams around Europe where Garcia would be much better suited.
Scott Sinclair was another of last summer’s new arrivals who failed to make his mark – two league starts and no goals is testament to that.
Compared to his final season at Swansea when he netted eight times and was vital to their success, the tricky winger has hit a stumbling block this season.
If Sinclair is to find his top form, he must head for the exit doors and City should not stand in his way.
Other England stars should also move on if they wish to feature in England manager Roy Hodgson’s plans, most notably Joleon Lescott and Jack Rodwell.
Lescott has slipped down the pecking order this season thanks to the fantastic form of Nastasic and near selection certainty of captain Vincent Kompany.
The former Everton man is on the downward slope at the back-end of his career and only regular football will allow him to keep his England aspirations.
With little chance of the 30-year-old disrupting the City backline, the new manager should ditch him in a move that would be beneficial to both parties.
Rodwell, another player who arrived with a lot of promise, has spent too much of this season in the sick-bay and his development has faltered as a result.
The 22-year-old midfielder made just five starts in a total of ten appearances, a very small total when considering the £12million outlay City paid for the ex-Everton star.
After a season littered with injuries, any new manager will have to have a serious think as to whether they want an injury-prone midfielder cluttering up their squad.
Another defender who should get the boot is Aleksandar Kolarov, as the Serbian is little more than an over-hyped free-kick taker.
The left-sided player has made just ten league starts this season, netting once, after losing his place to Gael Clichy.
Rumours are rife that the full-back will return to Italy this summer and it would make sense for any new manager to cast aside the want-away Serb.
He has been a bit-part this season and even a fraction of the £18million fee paid by City would be a significant addition to this summer’s transfer kitty.
Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz – costing £25million between them – both spent this season on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion and Malaga respectively.
They are both out of contract this summer and will free up a considerable portion of City’s wage bill when they finally leave.
Bridge, 32, was signed by Mark Hughes, but the arrivals of Clichy and Kolarov all but guaranteed the end of his Sky Blues career.
A successful spell at Brighton this year may well see the former England man make the switch to the south coast permanently.
Santa Cruz meanwhile, experienced the Champions League rollercoaster with Malaga and the Paraguayan is anticipated to return to South America.
The pair, at least, will be on their way out of the Etihad and should start a major summer of transfer activity for the blue half of Manchester.
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