I can't see Pep wanting to sell a player who one of the best players on the pitch when it comes to the press
We would be off our heads to consider selling him.
If he wants to move on then that's different and we get as much as we possibly can and wish him our best.
He would be very very low down on the list of players who don't deserve a place in this squad though.
I think something people need to realise is that City don't just sell players because they're not quite blowing the world away every week.
City only sell/release players who are:
- Too old to be good enough
- Want out
- Significantly surplus to requirements
Most notable City departures since Pep arrived have been old. The fullbacks, Navas, Touré, Silva, Aguero, Bravo, Otamendi, possibly Fernandinho.
We've had players that forced their way out like Sancho, Sané, Diaz, Kolarov, Nolito, and Garcia
And then there's the ones that Pep really didn't rate as good enough, at least by the time of their departure. Mangala, Hart, Delph, Angelino, Iheanacho. You generally knew who these were because they were barely used by Pep whatsoever if not loaned out.
(Some are combination of the above eg Clichy was both old and redundant by the end)
I can't think of a single player, especially under Pep, who you could AT WORST describe as a valuable squad player with a great attitude that's got plenty left to give that's been pushed out. Pep constantly goes on about the value of the whole squad, not just the XI he likes the most at the time. He's not suddenly going to change his opinion on them to live out some transfer fantasy.
This also goes for Sterling, Aké, and whoever else is the boo boy of the day too. They aren't getting sold. They aren't being used as makeweights. They aren't being pushed out. Unless they want to go, then Pep will still see their value as high quality players and do what he can to keep them around. Just like he kept Bernardo, or Gundogan, or Mahrez, or Rodri, or Cancelo, or whoever else despite so many suggesting they be sold.
The only time anyone came close to getting cast away was Stones, and that was due to him having a very messy 18 month spell (far worse than Sterling's run is made out to be).