5 players Manchester City could have signed instead of Jack Grealish last summer

#3 Lionel Messi - Paris Saint-Germain

Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola loves, respects and admires no player more than former Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.

The Spaniard saw the Argentine develop and spread his wings under him at the Camp Nou, emerging as one of the best players in the history of the sport.

Last summer, the Manchester club had the perfect opportunity to give him a new home, but ultimately lost him to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain.

Thanks to their abysmal financial state, the Blaugrana could not offer Messi a contract extension last summer, which ultimately led to the Argentine’s free transfer.

As per reports, Manchester City were trying hard to get his signature but could not compete with PSG’s astronomical offer.

Had everything fallen into place, no team in the world would have had the firepower to match City punch for punch. If only PSG had not swooped in, England could have stood witness to the iconic Messi-Ronaldo rivalry in the flesh.

---

#2 Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur v Morecambe: The Emirates FA Cup Third Round

Tottenham Hotspur ace Harry Kane was agonizingly close to moving to the Etihad Stadium last summer. The striker was determined to play under former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola and did his best to force his way out.

Manchester City were also in dire need of a forward following Sergio Aguero's move to Barcelona, and could have benefitted from Kane’s sharpness up top.

Unfortunately for both parties, Tottenham Hotspur were not ready to sell their star player to a direct Premier League rival. City came to the Lilywhites with multiple lucrative offers, but were all promptly shot down by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Since Antonio Conte’s arrival, Kane has had a change of heart and could very well end up signing an extension with the north London club.

If that happens, the England skipper will go completely and hopelessly out of reach for the defending Premier League champions.

---

#1 Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund

FC St Pauli v Borussia Dortmund - DFB Cup: Round of Sixteen

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are easily the two most sought-after young forwards in the world. While the former seems to be on his way to Real Madrid, Erling Haaland remains fair game.

Unfortunately, the race for his signature is rather hotly contested, especially due to his surprisingly low release clause of €75 million.

Getting Haaland for €75 million is nothing short of sensational, but Manchester City do not necessarily need that concession. After failing to lure Kane, they could have gone after the Dortmund ace with all their might last summer and signed the Norwegian goal-machine.

Given the number of creative players Manchester City have, Haaland could have easily emerged as the leading goalscorer across all European leagues.