Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini concedes the futures of his England players are up in the air.
Joleon Lescott is out of contract, so he has the freedom to leave, but Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell and James Milner will still be under contract and cannot go without the club's approval - even if they are frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities.
"We must first finish this season and we will see what happens," said Pellegrini. "We know we have to have an amount of English players, so we'll see the way we do the list next year.
"Richards, Rodwell, James and Hart all have contracts with the club. Lescott finishes his contract and maybe he will not continue here.
"The rule is correct, though, of course. We are in England. It's important for English football to have English players in every team."
