A Fantasy XI of Players Linked with Manchester City in Past 12 Months
Pep Guardiola’s impending arrival at Manchester City has sent gossip columns into overdrive in recent months.
The Spaniard is likely to want to make significant changes to the squad. Manuel Pellegrini will leave behind plenty of talent, yet City lack some of the qualities the new manager desires. Guardiola wants players who press high and hard, with pace, intensity, quick passing and possession football key to his style.
To turn City into the kind of side he managed at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, where he’s had untold success, will take significant transfer activity. A number of current players are vulnerable, with City scouring the world for new options to reinvigorate their squad.
It feels like the end of en era at City. The core of world-class players signed during Roberto Mancini’s time in charge, who have been responsible for City winning a clean sweep of domestic honours, are fading into the background. It’s been a glorious period in the club’s history, but it now feels like the time for significant changes.
City will be imbued by money from the new £5.2 billion Premier League television deal, as well as the additional revenue their run to the UEFA Champions League semi-final has created. With players also set to leave and bring in some sizeable transfer fees, they could have plenty of money to spend as Guardiola looks to make his mark.
Here we take a look at players who have been linked with City in the last 12 months and put together a fantasy XI. The side play 4-3-3. Use the comment section below to give us your thoughts.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
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It seems odd to many—but there are plenty of reports emerging that Guardiola will look to bring in a goalkeeper, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen his top priority, according to Matt Law of the Telegraph.
Joe Hart may have been one of City’s best performers this season, but it would seem the new manager wants a goalkeeper with different qualities, one who is comfortable in possession and will look to play out from the back.
At Bayern Munich, Guardiola has had Manuel Neuer, one of the finest in the world who plays almost as a sweeper, capable of leaving his area and joining in with the team’s passing game in the defensive third.
Hart has many qualities, but his distribution remains a weakness. That, to many City fans, isn’t a problem—they see him as a fine shot-stopper and true professional.
But if Guardiola wants to change City’s style and mould the team in his own image, perhaps the rumours of interest in Ter Stegen are true.
Dani Carvajal
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There’s little doubt Guardiola is going to have to address City’s full-back situation. Right now, all four are over 30, with the incoming manager’s desire to see his wide players play with energy and intensity meaning he is likely to want to refresh his options.
One player linked with a move is Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal, according to Marca. It seems unlikely the 24-year-old would want to leave the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium—but if City could entice him, he’d be a superb acquisition.
He is exceptional going forward, capable defensively and excellent on the ball.
Aymeric Laporte
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With Vincent Kompany’s continuing injury problems, as well as doubts over the suitability of Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi, a new centre-back is likely to be a priority for Guardiola.
Aymeric Laporte, currently out injured after suffering a broken leg and dislocated ankle, appears to top his wanted list.
According to Daniel Taylor of the Guardian, Laporte is the man Guardiola wants to install as City’s main centre-back, with the incoming Blues boss reportedly convinced he is equipped everything he needs to be a top-class defender for years to come.
He is thought to have a £39.6 million release clause, which Guardiola has convinced City's board to trigger in order to land the player.
Laporte, who turns 22 in May, could be defender City need to provide long-term stability.
John Stones
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Laporte is City’s top target—but John Stones, the Everton youngster, is another the club are thought to be watching, according to Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Independent.
Stones clearly has deficiencies. He’s been responsible for a number of goals Everton have conceded this season, either through a lack of awareness and concentration, or because of poor positioning. It’s a concern to many that he currently seems so error-prone.
However, he is clearly a talented player, particularly on the ball. He’s incredibly comfortable in possession, a true ball-playing centre-half, the kind England hasn’t produced since Rio Ferdinand emerged at West Ham United in the 1990s.
With Guardiola’s desire to see every single player in his squad possess good technique on the ball, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Stones is a player who has caught his eye.
He would cost a fortune, though. Everton are in a sound financial position and have no need or desire to sell. Only an astronomical offer would change their mind.
David Alaba
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Bayern’s David Alaba has signed a new contract in Bavaria, committing his future to the club until 2021.
Before agreeing his new deal, there were a flurry of reports linking him with a switch to City. It would have been a dream move for Guardiola to bring his most versatile and trusted Bayern star with him to Manchester.
Alaba, 23, is one of the finest players in Europe. Principally a left-back, he’s operated in various positions in recent seasons, including centre-back and midfield, always with distinction.
He’s fast, strong and athletic, as well as technically proficient. He’s a gift to the game.
Sergio Busquets
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It would be quite a statement if Guardiola came to City and brought in the finest defensive midfielder in the game, but if reports are to be believed, Sergio Busquets is a target for the new manager.
Busquets would be a key signing, the kind of player who carries out unglamorous work in such a diligent, unfussy way, a team’s creative players are unburdened of many of their defensive responsibilities and free to go forward and do what they do best.
He recently told ESPN (h/t Tom Farmery of MailOnline):
"I have always said there are just two persons who could make me change my decision to stay at Barcelona.
One of those two persons is my wife. And she is happy here right now, so I don't think there will be any issues on a personal level.
On a sporting level, that other person is Guardiola. It's clear that I owe Pep a lot and I would be honoured to work with him again.
"
"But he knows that Barcelona are my club and it's his club as well. He knows it's best for the club and for me to stay here and I don't think he will ask me to leave Barcelona [for Manchester].
I hope that when I end my career, I go down in history as a great team player, who won titles and excelled. I want to become one of the players with the most games for Barcelona.
"
If Guardiola can get this one over the line, it would be a huge coup.
Toni Kroos
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Guardiola likes midfielders who can pass—and few are better than Toni Kroos at passing a football.
His range is fantastic. He can sit deep and spray long balls around, stretching play and switching a team’s direction, or he can play closer to the forwards and initiate neat pass-and-move combinations.
In 2014, he emerged as one of the world’s biggest stars. He was the man of the match in the FIFA World Cup semi-final as Germany destroyed Brazil, and he was widely seen as one of the tournament’s best players.
He then moved to Real Madrid and looked superb in his first season.
However, according to AS, Guardiola will look to take him to City. Real have a history of letting top players leave in order to finance deals for superstars.
If Kroos is one they consider selling, it’s likely Guardiola would be at the front of the queue to bring him to the Etihad Stadium.
Ilkay Gundogan
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Another fine passer on Guardiola’s radar is Ilkay Gundogan, Borussia Dortmund’s superb midfielder.
According to Joe Strange of MailOnline, Guardiola and City sporting director Txiki Begiristain have met with the player’s uncle and agent, Ilhan Gundogan, with a view to bringing the German star in this summer.
He’s likely to be the first player through the door, with terms thought to be agreed already.
It would be a significant step towards creating a team that can compete technically with the best in the world. Gundogan is an exceptional player—with both technical quality and incredible stamina making him an ideal fit in a Guardiola side.
Theo Walcott
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The further up the field we go, the more fanciful the links appear to get.
Guardiola, according to James Olley of the Evening Standard, is an admirer of Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and will look to bring him to the club this summer.
The 27-year-old is unlikely to look to force a move, but with Arsenal struggling for form and his own position in the side uncertain, he may be tempted by a switch to refresh his career.
Walcott has superb pace that can stretch defences and offer an outlet on the counter. He would also boost City’s complement of home-grown players needed to comply with UEFA regulations.
Luis Suarez
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Simon Mullock, writing in the Sunday Mirror, believes Guardiola will target Luis Suarez as he looks to bring in world-class quality.
Suarez is perhaps the finest striker in Europe, with the prospect of the Uruguayan linking up with Sergio Aguero a tantalising one.
The Barcelona man was superb for Liverpool, excelling in the Premier League and barely struggling with the physical side of the English game.
Since his move to the Camp Nou, he’s improved still further. He has bagged 79 goals in 93 matches, including 54 this season alone. There are few sharper than Suarez inside the area.
Neymar
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According to Joe Bernstein of the Mail On Sunday, Guardiola wants a marquee signing—with Barcelona’s Brazilian superstar Neymar the most likely option.
City would need to pay in excess of £100 million to land him, but he is seen as a more realistic target than Lionel Messi.
Neymar is supremely talented. Cast as a show pony early in his career, he’s proved to be one of the most skilful players in the game.
He takes players on with ease and is a superb finisher. At 24, he still has plenty of time left at the top.
He’s scored 83 goals in 138 games for Barcelona.
