admin How Manchester City’s strongest starting XI could look if the transfer window goes to plan between now and the end of August.
Manchester City’s summer isn’t perfect, but we can still do our best and come out stronger than ever before.
Pep Guardiola and all at City were keen to keep the outstanding captain Ilkay Gundogan, but due to initial disagreements over the length of the new contract, Barcelona were offered a comfortable contract instead. was to be selected. The Blues are used to saying goodbye to legends, but unlike Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho and Sergio Aguero, Gundogan is still at his best.
The German scored the decisive goal in the Premier League title fight and scored the winning goal against Manchester United in the FA Cup final, en route to a historic treble. He remains one of Guardiola’s most trusted players, so his loss could be devastating.
But now that he’s gone, there’s a place in the middle of the park where someone can sit. Mateo Kovacic is an obvious candidate after Gundogan left Chelsea for £25m. The elegant Croatian has similar dynamics and combat prowess to Gundogan and could be a good fit.
But surely it’s time for Phil Foden to get the right spot in midfield? Guardiola is incredibly patient and he’s absolutely ready to take center stage He continued to play on the side until then, but now is the perfect time to see if he swims or sinks. When Kevin De Bruyne was sent off in the Champions League final, the manager trusted him enough to use him, and he was one of the few City players who were good and not intimidated by what happened.
Foden has shown growth and development and most importantly, with John Stones and Rodri behind him, he is finally ready to take on the role he has always been meant to play. Of course De Bruyne will stay in the side, but the Belgian is likely to miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury. This will also give space to Kovacic and Julian Alvarez.
Bernardo Silva would still be the front-runner to play on the right wing should he stay, while Riyad Mahrez, who is also rumored to be leaving, acts as a backup. Jack Grealish shined last season and while no one is going to take the left wing away from him for the time being, Erling Haaland will have a clear lead.
defense remains. City have Josco Gvaldior as their top target and are looking to strengthen their centre-back options, with Guardiola currently playing a four-man squad and Aymerk Laporte potentially missing. A star for RB Leipzig will cost a lot of money. Therefore, if he comes, he will have a great partnership with Ruben Diaz.
As a result, the Stones may eventually be forced out of central defense and will have to continue playing at right-back in midfield. In this case, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji will battle for the final position at full-back, with Ake shortlisted for his left-footed prowess.
Strongest City starting XI: Ederson; Gvardiol, Dias, Ake; Stones, Rodri; Bernardo, De Bruyne, Foden, Grealish; Haaland.
