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Bacary Sagna is the latest Manchester City full-back to state his desire to work under Pep Guardiola, meaning the new boss has a job on his hands if he is to bring new players in.

The current quartet have seen off all challengers in Manuel Pellegrini's tenure but with all four in their 30s, can they feasibly hold down positions in the new-look squad?

Pep's previous

Looking at what Pep Guardiola has done before in his managerial career, there is room for experienced heads on the flanks.

Eric Abidal continued to be an important part of his Barcelona team well into his 30s despite the signing of Maxwell while Sylvinho (34) racked up games in the coach's first season in charge.

With Bayern, Philipp Lahm was converted into a midfielder but could still fill in at right-back and is another who has left his 20s behind him.

At the same time, Guardiola moved to bring in younger players at both clubs; Maxwell and Adriano at the Nou Camp and Juan Bernat at the Allianz.

While the manager has shown he is not necessarily concerned with age, whether any of City's four stack up to the likes of Lahm is doubtful.

Average age of full-backs under Pep Guardiola 28 Barcelona 25.8 Bayern 31.2 City?

What about their rivals?

Going by Premier League standards, City are very old.

Last season City's first-choice full-backs were by far the most senior from the top six clubs, having at least ten years on the players at Arsenal, Spurs, United and Southampton.

That doesn't necessarily mean Guardiola NEEDS to bring in younger players, although standout names such as Hector Bellerin and Danny Rose are considerably younger than any City full-back.

Further afield, Atletico managed a Champions League final and an excellent tilt at La Liga with Felipe Luis and Juanfran - both are in their 30s.

Simeone is known for drawing collective greatness from the individuals he has at Atletico, but Guardiola isn't too bad a coach either.

Average age of first-choice Premier League full-backs, 2015-16

Who else is out there?

That is the key question that gives hope to City's ageing quartet.

At the club, Angelino and Pablo Maffeo have promise but saw their progression stunted under Pellegrini while talk of converting a midfielder seems to have centred on 31-year-old Fernandinho.

Jason Denayer could be an outside bet for a slot at right-back - particularly if both Aymeric Laporte and John Stones come in - having played there at Galatasaray this season.

David Alaba is an attractive but unlikely option but there has been little given away by City if they are chasing players in those positions.

The longer that picture remains murky the likelier the current bunch have of hanging on for at least another season, with French duo Sagna and Gael Clichy looking the least vulnerable.

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