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Last season, Manchester City ran away with the Premier League title, almost at ease. They almost had it wrapped up by Christmas, lost only two games, and thanks to a last-minute Gabriel Jesus winner against Southampton on the final day, became the first team in Premier League history to pass the 100 point mark.
There were some who said that this was the best team we have seen in the Premier League era. It may be too early to suggest that, but there is no doubting that some of the stuff they played was remarkable.
Pep Guardiola proved that he could make his tiki-taka style of football work in the Premier League, and put together the perfect group of players to show it. The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Raheem Sterling all thrived in the system, and they will be hoping for more next season.
We have seen in the past couple of years, that with Man City, and owner Sheikh Mansour, they aren’t prepared to just sit on success. They will be happy with the Premier League and League Cup double, but they will want the same next season, and probably more. They are still yet to win the Champions League, and Pep Guardiola will have more than one eye on that next season.
There is money to spend, and they will want to get better. Riyad Mahrez has joined the club in a £60 million deal, but it looks like they have missed out on a deal for Jorginho, as he looks set to follow his former manager Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea.
This means they will have to look elsewhere for their new signings, and here are five men who they should look at signing this summer.
#1 Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid)
Given the other players that City have showed interest in over the past year, they are clearly looking to bring a new centre midfielder to the club. In the past year, they have been linked with Fred, who has since moved to Manchester United, and Jorginho. They agreed a deal and personal terms to sign the Italian from Napoli, before Chelsea made their move. Kovacic is in the same mould as those two players, so could be the man they are looking for.
He is the sort of play that Guardiola would usually look to sign. He is versatile, an excellent passer of the ball, and someone well adept at reading the game. David Silva is 32 now, and not getting any younger. Kovacic is eight years his junior, and there are similarities between the pair. The Croatian has been at Real Madrid for three years now, but still is yet to establish himself in the team there. He is stuck behind Isco in the queue for a place in the first team, and doesn’t look like forcing his way into it just yet. He may feel it is time for him to move on to somewhere he may get more of a chance, and Guardiola could offer him just that.
#2 Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart)
Every World Cup, a player who we really know very little about, comes from nowhere and makes their mark. This tournament, it has been Pavard, who has impressed for France in Russia. He is naturally a centre back, but has spent the tournament playing at right back, and despite an uncomfortable start, has been one of the surprise stars of the World Cup. He has played a crucial role in France’s run to the final, and will probably have a big role to play when they come up against Croatia on Sunday.
From what we have seen in the past few weeks in Russia, Pavard is a solid defender, but he has shown a bit of class on the ball as well. Nicolas Otamendi had an excellent season at the Etihad last season, but can be rash at times, and isn’t as accomplished with the ball as Pavard. He is only 22, and he will be under the watch of top European clubs this summer, so won’t come cheap. Everyone saw the sensational goal he scored against Argentina, and if City sign him, they will hope for more of the same.
#3 Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)
Manchester City aren’t exactly weak in attacking areas. Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Kevin de Bruyne were all superb last season, with the likes of Bernardo Silva playing an important role in the squad. They have already bought in Riyad Mahrez, but Guardiola won’t be afraid of spending money if he finds a player he wants. There was a real fuss made about what country Bailey would make himself available for before the World Cup, and it is easy to see why.
Bailey is hot property in football, and there will be no shortage of suitors in the race for his signature. He is similar to Sterling in the way he plays. He is fast, skilful, and has an eye for goal. If anything, Bailey is probably a more complete player now, than Sterling was when he left Liverpool to sign for City. His finishing product is certainly better. And as we have seen how much Guardiola has improved Sterling, and it would be fascinating to see what the Spaniard could do with Bailey if he moves to City.
#4 Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax)
Ajax have a record of bringing through some excellent young players, and de Ligt looks like he could be the next man off the production line. Much like with Pavard, Guardiola may be looking to add another man to his backline. Pavard may be more for the present, but at just 18, de Ligt is one for the future.
In the last couple of years, he has come into the Ajax first team and made a name for himself. He played 31 games in the Eredivisie last season, as Ajax finished third, qualifying for the Champions League. He has impressed with his performances, and has done enough in his appearances to earn himself a spot in the Netherlands squad. If he does join City, he might not be considered experienced enough to be a first team player under Guardiola, so may have to wait for his opportunity.
#5 Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)
There aren’t too many more gifted centre midfielders in the world at this moment in time than Thiago, and there aren’t too many more who Guardiola would choose to sign. When Guardiola moved to Germany in 2013, Thiago was the one player he brought with him from Barcelona. But however good he is, things have never really worked out at Bayern Munich. He has suffered from injuries, a loss of form, or just purely being out of favour, and because of it, he has appeared in just 96 league games over the last five years.
If City are to move for Alcantara, then he would probably be one of the most expensive movers of the summer. He perfectly fits the system Guardiola plays, and with Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva, City would have one of the strongest midfields we have seen in the history of football. A move seems unlikely at this stage, as Bayern will demand an awful lot of money. But Guardiola will know how great that midfield could be, and he will know how much Thiago would add to his squad.
