Report: Manchester City defenders not signing contract extensions this season, facing release

Three Manchester City players have a big year ahead of them.

According to a report from The Sun, Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna will not have their contracts extended this season, even though they are in the final year of their deals. Instead, they'll have to earn a new contract and a spot in the side for the years to come by adapting to Pep Guardiola's style and performing well under the Catalan manager. If not, they'll be leaving at the end of their deals.

The Sun cites "Etihad sources" in their report, and these "sources" provide more details:

“There are no talks in pipeline to discuss possible contract extensions for Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy.

“All three are out of contract next summer but all given a reprieve by Pep Guardiola to prove themselves this season. They are all over the age of 30 and with youngsters Pablo Maffeo and Angelino also knocking on the first-team door, City are biding their time.”

You always have to take these reports with quite a few grains of salt, but Guardiola does want to promote players from the Academy, and both Maffeo and Angelino are great prospects at the full-back position.

If the report is accurate, Zabaleta, Sagna and Clichy's future at City is at serious risk, unless they play the best football of their lives in the next 10 months. Good luck.