Players Who Could Join Manchester City This Summer

Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City - Premier League
Mahrez provided two assists in the final match of the season

Pep Guardiola's side clinched the Premier League trophy after ending the season with a remarkable 100 points. Although it was a positive result for the Cityzens, Guardiola admitted that the club cannot be compared to Barcelona, who are on another level.

Defensively speaking, Manchester City put up the best performance in England, conceding a mere 27 goals in 38 matches. Guardiola has always been a fan of attacking football and will choose to focus on improving his side's aggressiveness in the coming transfer window.

It has been reported that Guardiola intends to sign three top players to make his team even more competitive next season and have a full tilt at all available titles - especially the UEFA Champions League, where they lost out to beaten finalists Liverpool last season.

With the World Cup coming right up, the 47-year-old manager could wait and watch or pounce early before prices skyrocket.


#5 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City)

The Algerian has been linked with a move away from Leicester City for quite some time. In January, he was on the verge of joining the Cityzens but the move eventually fell through.

Mahrez then missed training with the Foxes for a couple of days after the transfer window closed. Now with the summer transfer window open, Pep Guardiola has reignited his interest in Mahrez who could soon join him.

Rumors have pointed out that the deal between the two clubs could be sealed this week for a reported fee of around £75 million. A year ago, Mahrez announced his desire to leave with Arsenal and Manchester City the two most likely destinations.

Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, was extremely keen to sign the winger. Now that Wenger has left his post, Guardiola is in pole position to sign Mahrez.

The 27-year-old player has a huge influence on his team's attack. This season, he boasted a shot accuracy of 65% and created 55 chances in 36 appearances for his team-mates. Mahrez could find it hard to break into the starting lineup as the likes of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling are likely to retain their positions.

Taking him onto the team will only boost the Premier League champions' attack force and make the club even more lethal next season.

#4 Jorginho (Napoli)

SSC Napoli v FC Crotone - Serie A
Jorginho is widely expected to join Manchester City

Guardiola has expressed his liking for Jorginho and hopes to sign the player this summer. According to the player's agent, the Blues have started negotiations to bring the player to Premier League. With Yaya Toure leaving the club, the English side needs to recruit a midfielder who is capable of spreading the play equally and effectively.

The former Barcelona manager's style has always had at its core the domination of the ball. His success comes from the midfielders whom he grooms to be able to pass the ball around accurately.

The Napoli midfielder has earnt himself a nickname, the pass master, after an incredible season with the Italian team. Jorginho had a pass completion of 89% which is extremely close to Fernandinho's 90% all season.

At the same time, the younger Brazilian born defensive midfielder made an average of 2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game which would make him the perfect replacement for the senior Brazilian.

If Jorginho becomes a signing in the coming weeks, it is almost certain that he can fit right into the team at once. He has proven that he can do his job well in Napoli and at Manchester City, he just needs to be consistent with his performances.

#3 Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v VfB Stuttgart - Bundesliga
Bailey could leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer

The young Bundesliga star could cost £44 million if the English club does decide to sign him. Bailey scored nine goals this season in Bundesliga and the Sky Blues have shortlisted him as a transfer target this summer.

Money aside, Bailey and Raheem Sterling are close friends. They both hail from Jamaica and later moved to England. Sterling's development under Guardiola could tempt Bailey to insist on a move to the blue half of Manchester.

Although Guardiola also has an extremely potent attacking force, he is aiming to further strengthen it this summer. Bailey is expected to be a long-term investment for the Cityzens who may see Sergio Aguero leave the club in the near future.

In Germany, the 20-year-old superstar is said to be the new Arjen Robben, who is the king of the right-wing. Charging down the flanks at high speeds in Bundesliga, he is well regarded as an efficient winger for his side.

Bailey has great technique on the ball and his style of play has been likened to that of De Bruyne. If the talented youngster does join Manchester City, he will be able to learn from the senior teammates and improve his play.

#2 Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)

Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
Zaha has been linked to a big money move away from Selhurst Park

After a stunning season with Crystal Palace, many Premier League clubs - including both Manchester clubs - are said to be eyeing a swoop for Zaha. The winger had signed a new long-term contract last summer, but he could be tempted to join a bigger club for the sake of his future.

Crystal Palace survived relegation under Roy Hodgson this season and the dreadlocked star would have to be credited for his wonderful performances. The 25-year-old scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists in 29 league appearances for his club.

In most of the matches, he was deployed as a forward where he was able to utilize his blistering pace against defenders. That position has been proven to be his best playing position but Zaha is also capable of playing on the wings.

The Ivory Coast international was Sir Alex Ferguson's last signing before he retired, however, Zaha struggled during his time at Old Trafford and eventually went back to Palace.

Despite his short-lived career with the Red Devils, he is still highly regarded by the former Manchester United manager. He has now started to realize his full potential and his future is looking bright.

Getting him onboard the Manchester City team will provide more competition for Raheem Sterling and motivate the whole team to step up their performances when necessary. Even if the player does not make the starting lineup, he will be able to inject some energy into the team when called upon as a substitute.

#1 Isco (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Isco in Champions League action over the weekend

Isco has just won the UEFA Champions League trophy with Real Madrid following his side's victory against Liverpool. The 26-year-old is a regular starter under Zinedine Zidane in Spain.

He has scored nine goals and provided 10 assists in 49 appearances for his club this season. Despite that, Real Madrid is said to be willing to listen to offers for the Spaniard.

Manchester City has been rumored to be willing to spend £70 million on the midfielder. This will certainly add more firepower to the English side who has scored 106 goals en route to their title victory.

The attacking midfielder is noticeably strong in his passing and ability to hold onto the ball. Such capabilities will surely allow him to slot right into Premier League and efficiently handle the tough defenders in England.

The player's future at the club remains uncertain although Zidane had confirmed that the Isco would be staying put at the Bernabeu. But with the right price, City's manager could possibly snap the player up in the coming weeks.

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