While many clubs are still enjoying the off-season, preparations have already begun at Melbourne City HQ for their next A-League campaign.
The club parted company with Massimo Murdocca, Mate Dugandzic, Rob Wielaert, Iain Ramsay and Kew Jaliens, while Captain Patrick Kisnorbo’s late season good form saw him pick up a contract extension alongside midfielder Paulo Retre.
After revealing Ivan Franjic as the first signing for the 2015/16 season, the club also confirmed the signature of promising 18 year-old forward Steve Kuzmanovski from Western Sydney Wanderers.
Delighted to announce I have joined @MelbourneCity looking forward to the season ahead. #aleague pic.twitter.com/kTamg1VDzy
— Ivan Franjic (@Franjic5) June 3, 2015
The AIS graduate put pen to paper on a two-year deal with John van’t Schip’s side, a move that allegedly raised the ire of Western Sydney Wanderers’ manager Tony Popovic, who had the youngster in his future plans.
The club’s attacking stocks are to be further bolstered by the acquisition of former Sydney FC and Young Socceroos striker Corey Gameiro.
Gameiro has spent the past two years at Allianz Stadium, and according to Graham Arnold rejected a contract extension last week in order to sign a better deal for another A-League club.
City is also in the market for a new goalkeeper, with assistant manager Luciano Trani confirming there will be movement in that department in the next few weeks.
This will likely spell the end of Tando Velaphi’s time at the club given he is coming off contract, while second choice Andrew Redmayne has one year remaining on his contract.
Defensive reinforcements are also needed and City has reportedly expressed interest in Melbourne Victory’s out of contract Macedonian international Daniel Georgievski, while the club may be forced overseas in their search for a new central defender to complement the veteran Kisnorbo and youngster Connor Chapman.
Discussions are ongoing in attempts to resign Harry Novillo, who impressed after arriving to the club in February, while the out-of-contract Jonatan Germano has returned with family to Argentina although is in talks to extend his four-year spell in Melbourne.
The sticking point to a contract extension for the Argentine is his poor injury record, with the fan favourite making just 56 league appearances since joining in 2011.
Marquee man Robert Koren is set to remain at the club next season despite a less than spectacular first season in City colours, while star man Aaron Mooy has received no concrete offers from Europe as of yet, with the club hierarchy determined to keep hold of the Socceroos midfielder.
The futures of contracted trio Jason Hoffman, David Williams and James Brown are unclear after mixed 2014/15 campaigns for the three, even though their contracts run out at the conclusion of next season.
It is also not known if any of the National Youth League winning squad are to be given senior contracts. The likes of Wade Dekker, Luka Prelevic, Matt Millar, Stefan Zinni and Nicholas Symeoy all trained alongside the first-team last season, with the latter making two senior appearances.
Could this be how Melbourne City lines up in 2015/16?
Bench: Redmayne, Kuzmanovski, Clisby, Melling, Retre
Uncertain: Velaphi, Brown, Germano, Hoffman, Williams