Manchester City will be expected to fight on three fronts in 2022 and they have the squad to facilitate a three-way trophy charge.
While the League Cup will have a different name on it for the first time in five years after City 's elimination against West Ham, they are making decent progress in the Premier League and Champions League, while they will be one of the favourites for the FA Cup when they enter in the third round in January.
With expectations so high for manager Pep Guardiola and his players, he will not want to lose any key members of his squad. Nevertheless, speculation is beginning to swirl around every club as the mid-season window opens soon.
Here are three players that have been linked with a possible change of scenery at the start of 2022.
Raheem Sterling
One of the big tasks facing City in the coming weeks and months is resolving the future of Raheem Sterling.
The forward's contract at the Etihad Stadium is due to expire at the end of next season and he's fallen down the pecking order in 2021, with Guardiola opting for the likes of Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish in the wide positions ahead of him.
Sterling has spoken candidly about his future too, saying in October that he would be open to a new chapter elsewhere if he's not getting sufficient minutes.
"If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else, I would be open to it," the 26-year-old said at the FT Business of Sport US summit (h/t BBC Sport ). "I have not tried to make it a bigger deal than it is. I am just raring to go, play football and score regularly."
SkyBet rate Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain as joint favourites to sign Sterling at 8/1, with newly-monied Newcastle at 10/1.
Bernardo Silva
After City secured the signing of Grealish for £100 million in the summer, Silva was the man many thought might make way.
Guardiola himself spoke about the prospect of the Portuguese leaving City too. "All I want is for Bernardo to be happy, here or anywhere," he said, per Goal. "All I want is his happiness because he's a guy that deserves the best."
However, Silva has been one of City's best players this season, thriving in a number of different positions for the Premier League champions and making himself a must-pick for all of their biggest games.
As a result, it would be a huge shock if City were to sanction any sale of the 27-year-old, with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona previously linked with him.
Nathan Ake
Almost since joining City there has been speculation surrounding Nathan Ake leaving the club.
The former Bournemouth man is evidently in fourth place in the centre-back pecking order, with the imperious trio of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones involved in a fierce battle for two centre-back spots.
Ake has turned in mixed performances when he has been used by Guardiola in both the centre and on the left of defence. But he'll likely to continue struggling for consistency as long as his appearances are sporadic.
Now 26 years old, Ake is in the prime years of his career and despite enjoying success at City, there will surely be a desire to get more minutes on the field. With his former manager Eddie Howe now at Newcastle, links between the Magpies and the Dutchman feel inevitable in the coming months.
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