After winning the treble, Gua's Manchester City not only received great honors, but more gratifyingly, the team also ushered in a valuable opportunity to further upgrade the squad.
Veterans such as 33-year-old Kyle Walker and 32-year-old Gundogan, as well as players who have been idle all season, such as Kelvin Phillips and Emery Kraporte, may bid farewell to the team; Croatia's young iron guard Jošk Gvadior and Three Lions main defender Rice are expected to join.
Rice is expected to play Manchester City
It is in people to do things, and it is in heaven to do things. Even in the summer transfer window, Manchester City cannot be satisfied, but with the three advantages of strong financial resources, great honors and outstanding coaches, Manchester City has a huge and even unique attraction to the elite players in football.
The departure of Ilkai Gundogan will be a huge blow. Not only has City lost captain for the fourth summer in a row, but this time, he may have been at the peak of his career and remains an integral part of Pep Guardiola's squad.
Gundogan scored twice in the FA Cup final and scored two more goals in key matches to secure the Premier League title. He started every big game for City and remains at the peak of power, unlike his predecessors, including Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho, who all faded out of the squad before leaving.
Gundogan still has the power to fight again
Pep Guardiola and the rest of the club are desperate for him to stay, but he will travel to Barcelona at the end of this month when Etihad's contract expires.
Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic underwent a medical examination on Friday and Manchester City are set to sign him from Chelsea. While the 29-year-old is not signing to lower the Blues' midfield age, he certainly has many of the same qualities as the outgoing Gundogan.
Mateo Kovacic is a dynamic midfielder with smooth and delicate passing skills that fit Manchester City's passing system. But it remains to be seen whether he can replace Gundogan's goalscoring contribution or whether he will be able to deliver on what Guardiola demands of him.
However, the club do not see him as a direct replacement for Gundogan, so he is not the only midfield target. Last season, the lack of options in City's midfield was not finally exposed thanks to Johnstones' successful transition into a swingman at back, but there are not many midfielders available to coaches, especially after Gundogan left.
Given that Calvin Phillips looks never to be favoured by Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne could miss early in the season due to injury, further recruitment of midfielders is needed. Manchester City missed Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, so they turned their interest to Declan Rice.
West Ham's talisman continues to shine with a smaller team in the Premier League and led the Hammers to a European title this past season. Rice is set to leave London Stadium this summer and, despite being a top target for Arsenal, City are considering stepping in on their transfer.
It remains to be seen whether Manchester City will pay West Ham the £100m they want for their captain, but if they do, it would be a good signing. Rice may be technically rough at the moment, but he has excellent drive, a keen passing eye and can be aggressive in the media. It's exciting to think that he will get better under Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City are likely to be the strongest squad next season
The defence is another key position for Manchester City to strengthen. Joao Joao Cancelo and Emerick Laporte both look on the verge of leaving, and Kyle Walker's future is uncertain. If only one full-back leaves Joao Cancelo, City may not have to think about the full-back position for the time being, such as when Cancelo was loaned to Bayern Munich and they coped well.
John Stones, Nathan Acker and Manuel Akanji could be full-backs this season, with Rico Lewis and Walker in the reserves. However, if Walker also leaves, a replacement must be found.
Ahead of the full-back issue, a new centre-back is a priority, especially if Laporte leaves. RB Leipzig's Jošk Gvadior is the number one target, and although bringing him in will come at a high price, there is no doubt that he has the ability to provide more support to the team's defensive line.
Bernardo Silva and Riad Mahrez could also leave, and if they leave, City will have to sign another striker, but ideally, they will all stay, so City have plenty of attacking options, along with Phil Foden, Ellin Haaland, Jacket Grealish and Julian Álvarez.
Possible Manchester City Team of the Year next season:
Goalkeeper: Edson;
Defenders: Stones, Gervadior, Rubendias, Nathan Acker;
Midfielders: Rodri, Rice, Kevin De Bruyne;
wingers: Foden, Grealish;
Centre: Haaland