Perhaps huge change at Manchester City won’t be forthcoming this summer.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini appears safe in his job until the club’s No. 1 target, Pep Guardiola, becomes available. Pellegrini’s job was under severe threat after City’s derby hammering at the hands of Manchester United back in April, but a run of six straight wins after the match at Old Trafford steadied a somewhat turbulent ship.

James Milner will leave for Liverpool, according to BBC Sport, when his contract at City officially expires on July 1, but that’s been on the cards for some time, as have the departures of Alvaro Negredo, Matija Nastasic, Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair and John Guidetti. Milner aside, these are departures that will barely register given the limited role each player has had over recent months.

Edin Dzeko, though, is a current first-teamer who could well be on his way. Six goals in all competitions last season was a paltry return for a player of his calibre, and he spent the final five matches of the season as an unused substitute. In fact, since his woeful display away at Crystal Palace—arguably his worst for the club—Dzeko managed just nine minutes in the final seven games.

A haul of 26 goals in all competitions last season represented his best as a City player; this season, though, has been by far his worst.

Pellegrini’s late-season switch to 4-2-3-1 certainly didn’t help Dzeko’s cause, nor has the January arrival of Wilfried Bony, a younger, arguably more complete striker who brings perhaps even greater physicality and graft to the side.

Bony has had a slow start to life at City after his integration into the side was delayed by international duty and then hampered by niggling injuries, but he is expected to play a more significant role next season. The need for Dzeko, it seems, is somewhat on the decline.

Arguably, at 26, Bony is seen by City as the long-term heir to Dzeko’s throne. Dzeko, three years his senior, may well feel now is a good time to move on after four-and-a-half years at City, a period in which he has helped them become a dominant force in English football, winning a clean sweep of domestic honours and establishing them as a regular in the Champions League.

The difficulty Pellegrini has in letting him go is finding a replacement who can match Dzeko’s ability to score important goals. Prior to last season, the Bosnian proved consistently that he is very often the man for the big occasion.

His goals towards the end of the 2013/14 season, which were crucial in securing City their second title in three seasons, were the most recent reminder of his ability.

He has done exactly what was asked of him upon arrival in January 2011: provided goals—72 in all competitions—and often from the bench. There aren’t too many forwards in world football capable of coming off the bench with such devastating effect. It’s a valuable role in any squad.

But Dzeko cut a frustrated figure for much of the season. A move could be just what he needs to reignite is stalling career.

Alexandre Lacazette could well be the addition City need to alter their striking options. With Stevan Jovetic also surely on his way out of the Etihad exit door, City will need to sign another forward to join Bony and Sergio Aguero. Lacazette, 24, was awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Year having scored a remarkable 29 goals in all competitions last season and would be a wonderful signing for City.

Where Dzeko will go if he does leave remains unclear, but his reputation as a goalscorer means he won’t be without offers. His stock remains high in the Bundesliga, having been at Wolfsburg prior to his arrival at City, and his style could well suit Serie A, with former manager Roberto Mancini, now at Inter Milan, likely to be interested in a player he brought to Manchester.

But where many perhaps expect dramatic changes, City’s forward line is in need of a tweak rather than a significant overhaul. 

 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report’s lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.

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