Scouting 3 Potential Summer Transfer Targets for Manchester City

After Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s end-of-season address to the fans earlier this week on City TV, it’s clear the club is in exceptionally good health in the majority of areas.

Al Mubarak accepted the first team had regressed and said he was “disappointed” with the performance of Manuel Pellegrini’s side this season, but he laid out a clear message that City are profitable, building a solid infrastructure and blessed with young talent at every age level.

It was a bullish performance. Al Mubarak’s words will have been of comfort to fans unhappy with the regression Pellegrini’s players have shown in what was a poor title defence and stuttering Champions League campaign.

City are set to spend money. Al Mubarak told fans:

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“We've created a nucleus at Manchester City, we have a great nucleus that we have here, we want to preserve this nucleus, but at the same time we want to go to the next level.

"We want a squad that has the capability and quality to win the Premier League, compete and win the Champions League and compete and be able to go all the way in two cup competitions in England, and I think you will see some changes.

"You will see some players who have served us well, and maybe it's time for them to move onto their next challenge, and you will see us in the market bringing high quality individuals, that fit within what we are aspiring to, coming in the summer.

"I can assure you the squad will be stronger, this team will be more competitive. I am both confident and excited about what's coming next year."

"

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Txiki Begiristain, the club’s sporting director, has been under scrutiny after last summer’s transfer window did little to improve the side. He will be keen to show he can sign players capable of elevating the squad to new heights.

The former Barcelona man has proven he can work swiftly in the market, often identifying players well in advance and moving quickly to sign them. He needs to show this summer, however, that he can identify better targets, with City in need of at least one really big-name player to elevate the team to the next level.

It’s not only an important summer for the club, it’s vital for Begiristain’s own reputation.

The three players most often linked with the club this summer have been Kevin De Bruyne, Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling, as reported by Samuel Luckhurst at the Manchester Evening News. But what would City be getting if any of them were to sign?

De Bruyne 

Wolfsburg's former Chelsea midfielder is a player City have on their radar, and a bid feels imminent after weeks of speculation. 

He has had a fine season in the Bundesliga. He scored 10 goals and registered 20 assists, a Bundesliga record and the most across Europe's top five divisions, proving he has what it takes to influence teams at the highest level. 

It was enough to see him win the Player of the Year award in Germany. Having left Chelsea 18 months ago because of what he saw as a lack of first-team opportunities, the 23-year-old's decision to move on and further his career has been fully justified. He's now one of the most sought-after players in European football. 

The price tag, though, could be high, and although City are free of the UEFA sanctions that restricted their net spend last summer, they still have to comply with financial fair play rules and will be wary about spending too much of their budget on one player. 

However, if he could transfer his attacking involvement to City and provide goals and assists from midfield, he'd be worth the gamble. 

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Paul Pogba 

Even more sought-after will be Paul Pogba, Juventus' French midfielder who has shown all the signs of becoming one of the world's best players since he left Manchester United and signed for the Turin club in 2012. 

It's arguably United's biggest ever mistake in the transfer market. Pogba, 22, has everything. Pace, power, the ability to run with the ball, tenacity and goals. He's the complete midfielder and exactly the kind of world-class player City need to reinvigorate their squad. 

City's midfield lacked dynamism at times last season, a problem Pogba would solve in a heartbeat. The problem City face, though, is competition for his signature. Pogba is likely to be wanted by a host of Europe's top clubs and ensuring he chooses the Etihad will be no easy task. 

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Raheem Sterling 

City also lacked pace last season, particularly in attacking areas, which is why their pursuit of Liverpool's Raheem Sterling makes sense. 

He scored seven and assisted seven in the Premier League this season and looked Liverpool's best player at times. He has searing pace and has become steadily more influential as his career has progressed. 

The 20-year-old looks a fine prospect, but he is far from a complete player just yet, which is why City are likely to haggle over the proposed transfer fee. According to BBC Sport, City have had a bid of £25 million rejected, with Liverpool thought to value the player at twice that price. 

His home-grown status is another plus to a side in need of such players to fulfil Premier League criteria. 

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Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.