The summer of change?

With hopes of defending their Premier League crown all but gone thoughts are beginning to turn towards the summer and what needs to be done for City to rebound and mount a bid to regain the title in 2013/14.

Interestingly though the majority of the articles tend to focus on not which players may be arriving, but those who may be leaving, evidenced in this piece by blogger TypicalCity over at BFTGT:

This summer looks set to be the most interesting in Manchester City's recent history. With our relative failure on the pitch, a number of big-earners set to leave, and Txiki Begiristain overseeing his first summer recruitment drive at the club, there appears to be a perfect storm gathering that should see a squad overhaul take shape.

This follows on from this piece in this article in the MEN that suggested eleven players could be on the way out. If true, this would be a remarkable summer just twelve months removed from hoisting the Premier League trophy and what is telling are that the numbers that are constantly linked with moves are not necessarily the 'dead wood' or those out of contract but include key contributors from the title win (added to the already departed Milan duo if Nigel de Jong and Mario Balotelli).

Usually, sides soon on the back of a title triumph would add one, possibly two pieces to the squad to add competition and increase quality in certain areas but I cannot recall such a turnover occurring so quickly.

Now, there are of course Financial Fair Play considerations to factor in and there should be a ton of money coming off the books this summer (Wayne Bridge, Roque Santa Cruz et al) regardless of any other movement but after regular comments over the course of the season is a mass exodus designed to provide Roberto Mancini with the sort of players he clearly craved last summer?