The fact that Manchester City’s European ban was overturned by CAS has meant that the club can now move on and begin planning for the summer transfer window. The club will be free to compete in the Champions League, making it easier to bring in new recruits, while there are a couple of significant players expected to depart the Etihad, and so it has been imperative for the City executives to get to work and give Pep Guardiola a squad that can mount a closer challenge for the Premier League title next season.
City are going to see David Silva leave the club after ten excellent years of service. The Spanish playmaker has been one of the best players in the league over that time period, and it will be immensely difficult for anyone to fill his shoes. However, Guardiola is likely to give youngster Phil Foden the chance to take his place and make the spot his own, rather than going to find a replacement in the transfer market. City are also losing Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich, while Fernandinho may also move on at the end of this season. Those are two roles for which City will be actively looking to recruit, and so it seems like they have managed to identify the players they want to bring in.
First up, City are interested in Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder can also play at centre-back, and so would be a very good replacement for Fernandinho, who has played a lot at centre-back this season. Zakaria has become a very good and influential player for Monchengladbach, having signed for them three years ago, and is young enough to improve a lot more. He is also 6’2″, which would add a physical element to the City side which has been sorely lacking, and at the same time would also provide Pep with an alternative to Rodri, who has played far more than would have been expected from him in his debut season.
Further up the pitch, Valencia’s Ferran Torres is the second player who City are apparently looking to bring in, if UK bet site is to be believed. Torres has been identified as the perfect replacement for Sane, and so the 20-year-old is City’s primary target. While he is extremely keen on a move to Manchester, City still have to come to an agreement with his current club Valencia. The Spanish club want £39 million for the winger, while City have only shown an interest in paying around £20 million so far. Given that Valencia are also interested in one of City’s players, the youngster Yangel Herrera, it seems as if a deal which benefits all parties will eventually be arrived at.
Manchester City are in need of a rebuild of sorts, with some important players moving on this summer. Pep needs the club to bring in players which fit the profile he needs, and City will be looking to make these two deals early so that these new arrivals can bed in and get used to the Catalan coach’s demands ahead of the new season.
