10 Key Factors to Take Manchester City to Premier League Title Glory in 2015/16
After what was a "disappointing" season, according to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City face a critical summer. With the right additions to their squad, City will be back challenging for the title. Get this transfer window wrong and Chelsea could be left to dominate.
City regressed in every competition last season and manager Manuel Pellegrini, who has been given a stay of execution despite a poor campaign, will be desperate to show it was a blip.
Here, we look at 10 ways in which City can ensure a return to their very best in 2015/16.
1. Get Rid of the Deadwood
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In order for City to make room for new additions who will improve the makeup of their squad, they must ensure players on the periphery leave.
Stevan Jovetic will top the list of possible candidates to leave the Etihad given his struggles in his two years as a City player, and Edin Dzeko, who scored just four league goals in the last campaign, may also be sacrificed.
2. Sign a "Crack"
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In an interview with Sid Lowe for the Guardian back in March, Pellegrini stressed the importance of signing a "crack"—a world-class star who can elevate the squad to new heights. City haven't bought a player of that quality since Sergio Aguero arrived in 2011.
Paul Pogba fits the bill but will be at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Europe's top clubs, but it is that kind of player, one destined for greatness, whom City need to really announce themselves as big players in the transfer market once again.
3. Inject Some Pace into the Side
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City undoubtedly lacked pace last season, particularly in attacking areas, and this summer they will surely focus on adding some to their ranks.
Raheem Sterling, the 20-year-old Liverpool forward, would fit the bill nicely. He's shown real quality already in his short career and has pace to burn.
City need a top-class ball-carrier. Sterling is one in the making.
4. Get Kompany Back to His Best
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The form of club captain Vincent Kompany is a major concern and one City's coaching staff will be desperately looking to sort out ahead of the new season.
His constant calf problems don't help, and club doctors must find a solution, but there's an alarming decline in his performances, too, which is a huge worry.
He's looked rash positionally and in the challenge, too eager, it seems, to impress and prove he is a top quality player.
Pellegrini needs Kompany. At his best, he is one of the finest defenders in the league.
5. Add Some Youth to an Aging Squad
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The average age of City's squad is too high and some youth is needed.
Young, hungry players with the talent needed to reach the very top of the game will be targeted. Kevin De Bruyne, the 23-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder who scored 10 and assisted 20 in the Bundesliga this term, is one possible acquisition.
And within their own ranks, City may have what they need. Their academy is flourishing, and in Jason Denayer, Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcos Lopes, they have three youngsters who could potentially supplement the first-team squad next season.
6. Restructure Their Midfield
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City's midfield did, at times last season, lack dynamism, and Pellegrini will want to reconstruct it this summer.
Pogba is the obvious candidate to solve the problem. He, alongside Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, could form a formidable midfield option.
Marco Verratti is another player City could target. He has everything they need: tenacity, technical quality and the ability to sit deep and start moves with his impressive range of passing.
7. Promote Vieira to the First-Team Coaching Staff
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Patrick Vieira, the club's EDS manager, is ready for a manager's job at a top club. City risk losing him if a good offer comes in. That's not a situation they want to see happen.
Vieira is Premier League great, an articulate statesman whose likability stretched beyond football. He could easily manage City one day in the future. Perhaps an offer to join Pellegrini's first-team coaching staff would be enough to convince him to stay. For now, at least.
8. Find a New Striker
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If Jovetic and Dzeko do leave, which is a distinct possibility, then finding another striker who can bring a new dimension to the City attack will be vital.
Wilfried Bony arrived in January and is expected to play a more prominent role next season, and Sergio Aguero is the best out-and-out striker in the league. A young forward with exceptional movement and goalscoring ability would be perfect.
Alexandre Lacazette fits the bill. Lyon's Ligue 1 Player of the Year scored 31 goals in all competitions last season and, at 24, has plenty of scope for improvement.
9. Show More Tactical Flexibility
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One of the major criticisms of Pellegrini's time in charge of City has been his tactical rigidity. He appears to stubbornly stick to Plan A, even if the opposition dictates something different.
His switch from 4-4-2 to something close to a 4-2-3-1 during the final weeks of the season was an effective move, and he must surely be ready to adapt his system when necessary in 2015/16.
10. Allow Mangala to Flourish
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He's been easy to criticise since his arrival from Porto for a hefty fee last summer, but Eliaquim Mangala has serious potential.
Reading the game has been an issue, as has nervousness and an eagerness to impress. During his run of games towards the end of the season, though, there were signs he was improving.
In terms of natural attributes, there's little he lacks. He possesses pace, strength, athleticism and is good in possession. He has all the makings of a top player, and City must give him an opportunity to flourish next season.
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