Premier League giants Manchester City are set to send shockwaves across Europe with a £150 million spending spree to beef up their squad in the summer, according to reports in the British press. Pep Guardiola is keen on signing Arsenal star Hector Bellerin, Juventus’ in-demand defender Leonardo Bonucci and Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to a report in British news outlet The Mirror, Pep Guardiola is re-assessing the state of his squad after a disheartening 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur that left the flaws in their squad exposed. The Spaniard had already splashed the cash to the tune of £175 million in the summer, but has been authorised to spend more by the higher-ups in the cash rich club.
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Chief among Guardiola’s wishlish is the need for two fullbacks, and a striker to slowly phase out an injury-prone Sergio Aguero. City are willing to part with up to £40 million for Hector Bellerin, with the Arsenal star nearing the end of his contract with the Gunners, as Guardiola is uphappy with both Bacary Sagna and Zabaleta in the right-back role.
In a similar vein, the Spaniard wishes to restore Aleksandar Kolarov to the left-back role, after he’s looked unconvincing in the centre-back role. Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci is a target, but City will have to fight Chelsea off with a £60 million bid for the centre-back, who would be the perfect partner for John Stones.
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Additionally, the report claims that City are willing to part with £50 million for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker seems to be a surprise target since the Sky Blues already have Sergio Aguero, but Guardiola remains concerned that the Argentine will never be fit for long stretches of time, and wants a long-term replacement that’s better than Kelechi Iheanacho.
However, City are well aware that they will probably struggle to entice such high-profile targets in the January transfer window, and are willing to wait until the summer to make their bids. However, Arsenal, Juventus and Borussia-Dortmund are all preparing improved contracts for the players in question, hoping to ward off the charms of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
