Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge of Manchester City did not turn out as well as one expected from his team. They bowed out of the Premier League title race early and were knocked out of the Champions League by high-flying Monaco. In fact, the Citizens did not win any trophy last season as they failed to make it to the finals of EFL Cup and FA Cup.
As a result, there is a stronger emphasis to have a great season. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has already stated that they can even think of winning the quadruple this season, piling further pressure on Guardiola.
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The primary focus will be on the Premier League and Champions League. In the Premier League, despite boasting of one of the deepest squads in the country, City failed to launch a proper assault. This has seen the arrival of attacking playmaker Bernardo Silva from AS Monaco in May and goalkeeper Ederson from Benfica last month.
However, there are a few more problem areas for City that need rectifying. Further, they are yet to make the superstar signing who can propel them to the summit of the Premier League and go further in the Champions League.
Keeping this in mind, here are 5 signings who would win Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City the Premier League in the upcoming season.
#5 Benjamin Mendy
One of the biggest weaknesses of Manchester City last season was the full-back position. Pep Guardiola’s system requires full-backs who can maraud the entire length of the pitch. Dani Alves, Eric Abidal, Philipp Lahm and David Alaba from Pep’s previous clubs, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, have a few things in common. They are smart defenders and are technically superb in supporting attacks.
Manchester City’s left-backs last season were Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov. Clichy was on the wrong side of 30 and Kolarov was more suited for left wing-back than left-back. To add what’s needed, Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand is one of the targets under consideration.
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However, their prime target has to be Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy. The Le Havre graduate struggled at Marseille before joining the new French revolution at Monaco last summer. He was a key player in their Ligue 1 win and Champions League run to the semi-finals.
Mendy is an excellent crosser of the ball, links up well in attack and is solid in defence. He has already played for France despite being 22 and the huge competition for places. He picked up 5 assists in the league to go along with the 3 assists in the Champions League last season. Thus, Benjamin Mendy represents the perfect signing for City to mend their left-back role.
#4 Kyle Walker
Not just the left-back role, the right-back position is another problem area for Guardiola. Both Bacary Sagna and club legend Pablo Zabaleta were on the wrong side of 30 and have been shipped out. Thus, City need a first-choice right-back this summer and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker perfectly fits the bill.
A case can be made for Kyle Walker as the most complete English full-back in the league. The 27-year old is strong, full of pace and is part of one of the meanest defences in the Premier League at Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs. He is a constant attacking threat with 5 assists to his name last season. Moreover, his link-up play with Christian Eriksen is a strong indicator of how well he can gel into Guardiola’s style of football.
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The signing of Walker could prove far from a walk in the park for City as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is not easy to negotiate with. Nevertheless, the right-back represents a great piece of business with his experience of the league and involvement in two title fights in the last two years a great asset for City’s ambitions.
Signing both Mendy and Walker will strengthen the first-team and will allow the free-flowing football associated with Guardiola. These two factors are sure to play a huge role in their title hunt next season.
#3 Ousmane Dembele
Currently, Manchester City have an embarrassment of riches in attacking midfield. New signing Bernardo Silva adds to David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Nolito, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling in the positions. 20-year old winger Marlos Moreno joins the ranks as well.
While the left wing is set with Leroy Sane settling in last season, the right wing marshalled by Raheem Sterling can be improved. The 22-year old is a skilled player but his end-product, especially in front of goal, continues to disappoint. Hence, signing Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund represents a great move for the blue half of Manchester.
Kylian Mbappe might be receiving the plaudits as the most exciting French talent at the moment, but 20-year old Dembele picked up a superb 12 assists in an arguably superior league in his debut season. He formed a telepathic understanding with star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and was unstoppable with his pace and dribbling ability standing out.
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Further, he is already a two-footed player, making him a fluid attacker for Guardiola. His recent performance for France against England is a great trailer for what he can bring to City. He is already an improvement on Sterling and a right-wing of Walker and Dembele will win matches for City many a time.
#2 Virgil van Dijk
The full-backs are not only the defensive positions in need of reinforcements. At centre-back, Vincent Kompany is not getting any younger while John Stones is yet to impress. Nicolas Otamendi had a good season but it is captain Kompany’s return from injuries towards the end of the season that truly steadied the defence.
Therefore, it is imperative for the Citizens to buy a centre-back in the top bracket to lead and orchestrate the defence. While Virgil van Dijk might be interested to join Liverpool, the whole fiasco can lead to the Saints preferring selling the Dutchman to any club other than the Reds. In such a scenario, City should be first in the queue and snap up the defender.
Physically a colossus, extremely comfortable on the ball and a commanding leader at the back, Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in Premier League. He will solidify a leaky defence and is the ideal replacement for Kompany.
A regular for the Netherlands, van Dijk brings in a wealth of Premier League experience and at 26 years of age, he represents a great investment for City. As the adage goes on how great strikers win you matches while great defences win you championships, van Dijk firmly transforms City into the latter category.
#1 Alexis Sanchez
All the previous signings are either required or an improvement on existing players. However, every team in quest for a title needs a superstar player who lifts the team with him. While Manchester City are blessed with a number of top players, none of them comes close to Alexis Sanchez in terms of what he brings to the table.
Sanchez scored 24 goals and assisted 10 more for Arsenal last season. These are phenomenal numbers for any player and the Chilean is a player right at the top of his game. He can play either on the left wing or up top and has the winning mentality needed to win trophies.
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Further, he is one of the coolest penalty takers around, comfortable with either foot and is at the peak of his game. Another huge factor that will help Pep’s style of play is his tremendous work-rate as he works his socks off in every game irrespective of his position.
At 28 years of age, he might not be the youngest but Manchester City signing Sanchez is akin to local rivals Manchester United signing Robin van Persie in 2012. Sanchez can paper over the cracks for City even if they miss out on other targets and help them launch a title bid.
It is not often that a player like Sanchez comes along and more importantly, looking to move in such peak form. If City sign him up, then the chances of Pep Guardiola winning his first ever PL crown will increase substantially.
