Summer Transfers Who Would Fit Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City Style

There was a time toward the end of last season, most notably after the defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in April, when Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City future looked very uncertain indeed.

A run of eight defeats in 15 matches in all competitions, a sequence of results that featured just four wins, made his position almost untenable, but six wins from the last six matches of the season have given him a stay of execution.

He will now lead City into the final year of his contract. Whether he will sign a new deal remains unclear, with his performance next season and the availability of Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola likely to be the most important factors in determining his position beyond the summer of 2016.

For now, though, the Chilean’s attention turns to revamping his squad and preparing them for an improved year. Alongside Txiki Begiristain, the club’s sporting director, Pellegrini will look to get rid of some deadwood—a process already underway—and add the missing ingredients to a squad that still has plenty of quality.

Micah Richards, Matija Nastasic, Dedryck Boyata and James Milner have all had their exits confirmed, and with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions that hampered them last summer lifted, there’s now plenty of scope for new arrivals.

With City suffering from a lack of pace in attacking areas last season, Raheem Sterling, Liverpool’s talented 20-year-old attacker, has been targeted. City have had two bids turned down already, according to the Guardian, but are likely to return with at least one more improved offer.

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

Sterling ticks a lot of boxes for City. They currently have a lack of home-grown players, something he would help address, but, more importantly, he’s a potentially top-class ball-carrier, something they badly lacked during the last campaign.

All of Europe’s top sides have at least one. Eden Hazard was the star of the Premier League last season and gives Chelsea an edge on the break. He commits players, takes defenders out of the game and creates space for those around him.

Arjen Robben remains Bayern Munich’s most potent weapon, Barcelona have both Lionel Messi and Neymar, and Real Madrid have Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. Players who can beat defenders and run at pace in the final third are vital.

Sterling is far from the finished article, but there are very few players in world football who look quite as well-equipped for the top of the game at such a young age. City are buying potential, something that is always a somewhat risky strategy, but it’s clear why there is such strong interest.

City may have again finished as the Premier League’s top scorers, but there was a shortfall on their previous season’s tally. They scored 83 league goals last season—10 more than Chelsea—yet that was a significant shortfall on the previous season's tally of 102. 

It’s perhaps a sign of their recent lack of ambition in the transfer market, brought about by FFP restriction, that the attacking side of their game has been allowed to stagnate somewhat, and Pellegrini will want to see an improvement. 

He is a manager committed to attacking football, with a pass-and-move style central to his overall philosophy. It has to be easy on the eye, otherwise the Chilean isn’t satisfied.

That is why Isco, the Real Madrid playmaker, would work so well in his City setup, as this writer argued recently. Isco is a wonderful footballer, a naturally gifted, intelligent player whose appreciation of pace and ability to pick a pass is reminiscent of City's David Silva.

Angel Fernandez/Associated Press

Given Samir Nasri's inconsistency last season, which saw his role rapidly reduce from March onwards, Pellegrini will be keen to add another player of that ilk to his ranks, and Isco would fit the bill perfectly. 

They worked together at Malaga, and Pellegrini tried to make him his first signing as City manager in 2013 but was outflanked by Real Madrid with a deal seemingly in the bag. He has the tools at his disposal to be Spain's main man for many years. City would be getting themselves a superb player who is just 23. 

If City could land both Sterling and Isco—players who, on paper, fit the Pellegrini blueprint—their attack would surely look more potent than it did at times last season. 

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.