Pep Guardiola's assistant Pep Lijnders has hinted Bernardo Silva's time at the club will finish in the summer, saying "every good story comes to an end".
When the skipper climbed the steps at Wembley Stadium following Manchester City's brilliant Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal last Sunday, it was the 18th piece of silverware he had lifted since joining the club from Monaco in 2017.
Silva may not quite have the standing of past City icons such as Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany or David Silva, but his achievements will undoubtedly sit alongside theirs when he does make his exit from Etihad Stadium.
In September, the midfielder said he knows “exactly” what he is going to do when his deal comes to an end, without actually revealing what that is.
He has not yet signed an extension and has been linked with the likes of La Liga leaders Barcelona, Serie A side Juventus and clubs in America.
City are understood to be interested in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson in the summer, a move that may well transpire whether Silva leaves or not.
But how do City go about replacing a player like Silva with this chapter in his career possibly about to close?
"You don't replace him, he is in many ways irreplaceable," said former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips. "He doesn't have a position, he is everywhere."
Ex-City women's captain Steph Houghton added: "There is nobody that can do what he does. With Bernardo, he is a different kind of leader to Kompany or Fernandinho.
"A lot of it is through performances and about him leading the boys in doing certain things, you can't fault his effort every single time he pulls on a Manchester City shirt.
"No matter where he is playing, he gives absolutely everything."
With Silva's time in Manchester looking increasingly likely to be coming to an end, how do you feel about the captain's possible departure in the summer? Is he irreplaceable?
Get in touch with your views here
