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Rob DawsonReporter
Every summer, City of Manchester Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak uses the club’s internal TV channel to speak to fans. This is usually a review of the previous season, but this year’s address also includes a warning for Premier League and the rest of Europe.
Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haalandone of the best young players in the world, has won £51 million, and according to Khaldoon, the team will only get stronger before the new campaign. “I can confirm that there will be many players involved,” he say. “We’re looking to strengthen the team in areas that need strengthening.”
Given that they are already the dominant team in the UK, it’s a statement that worries their rivals around the world.
Pep Guardiola’s team has been run for nearly Liverpool last season but they still won their fourth Premier League in five years. They scored 99 goals – more than anyone else – while often playing without a recognized striker, and scored the best defensive record (26 goals conceded, drawn with Liverpool). They had clinched 90 plus points in the tournament for the third time since the 2017-18 season and were just minutes away from their second consecutive Champions League final. an inexplicable collapse in the last minutes against Real Madrid.
After six years under Guardiola, City are a well-oiled winning machine. And, according to Khaldoon, they’re holding the accelerator.
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Haaland is the leading appearance and fills the void ahead that Man City coped admirably last season, but sources told ESPN that other changes to the squad will allow Guardiola’s side to compete in every competition next year.
Argentina in front of Julian Alvarezsigned from River Plate Because £15 million in JanuaryIt has been announced that he will not be loaned out, and the management has begun work to find a new left-back and a midfielder to replace him. Fernandinhowho passed away after nine seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
Sources have told ESPN that the former Barcelona full-back Marc Cucurella are on the list of potential targets, and Brighton’s £35m price tag is not thought to be too much of a problem.
England midfielder Kalvin Phillips fanned by Guardiola and City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, although sources have revealed to ESPN that a move has been complicated as Leeds exit the relegation scene. However, a deal is still being worked out and City are set to contact Leeds after England’s Nations League matches.
Elsewhere, City has shied away from moves for Barcelona‘S Frenkie de Jong and West Ham‘S Declan Rice.
De Jong has been offered to Man City – and most of the big clubs in Europe – as Barcelona try to raise £70m for newcomers, but so far only Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have returned positive feedback. Man United are the leading contenders, but there are concerns at Old Trafford that the Dutchman is intent on staying at Barcelona – whether they want him there or not. Rice, meanwhile, has told West Ham he is unlikely to sign a new contract and wants to kick the Champions League regularly, but this summer at least, City have deemed the 23-year-old too expensive for more. 100 million pounds.
Any other new signing for City is likely contingent on a departure.
City expect strikers Gabriel Jesus leave and so on, ArsenalReal Madrid and Atlético Madrid have registered their interest. Guardiola is a big fan of the Brazilian, who played a key role at the end of last season, but with just one year left on his contract and eager to play more often, City are ready to spend around £50m. Jesus is keeping open the prospect of reuniting with Guardiola’s former assistant, Mikel Arteta, at the Emirates, but City’s valuation so far is questionable.
Arsenal is also one of the clubs interested in the Ukrainian left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko and the British winger Raheem Sterling. Sterling will enter the final year of his contract this summer, and sources have told ESPN that he will make a decision about his immediate future after England’s Nations League games. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are monitoring the situation closely, and Sterling does not rule out a move abroad. The 27-year-old is acutely aware that the next contract he signs will be the most important of his career.
A new five-year contract will bring Sterling to 32, and by that time the chance to try his hand at another major European league may have passed. He is also worried about his place in Guardiola’s plans for the future and will not settle for being on the bench. If Sterling says he is not likely to seriously consider signing a new contract, City will have to listen to offers this summer to avoid losing him for free in 2023.
Sources have told ESPN that they will also consider offers to sign the midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and the winger Riyad Mahrez – both are over 30 and out of contract next summer – while Newcastle are interested in the defender Nathan Akealthough the trio will not be allowed to leave at the same time.
Guardiola doesn’t like to keep unhappy players – that’s why wingers Ferran Torres was allowed to join Barcelona for 55 million euros in January – but the squad needs to be strong enough to meet the demands of the four leagues.
City are starting a summer of change, but their ability to challenge for the biggest titles remains the same. They have set the standard in the Premier League over the past decade and are continuing to make moves to keep it that way. Their opponents have been warned.
