Lionel Messi and Kalidou Koulibaly incoming? How Manchester City could look in 2020/21 as they bid to win Premier League title back from Liverpool
Manchester City will be determined to wrestle the Premier League crown back from Liverpool, and work is well under way on strengthening their squad for the 2020/21 season.
Pep Guardiola’s side finished 18 points adrift of Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Reds last term while they also suffered Champions League disappointment, which is sure to fuel their desire for major honours.
Pep Guardiola is looking to close the gap on Liverpool
City just weren’t able to keep up the pace they would set over the previous two seasons where they won back-to-back titles and amassed 198 points.
Now they are the ones playing catch-up and have already made moves in the transfer market – with more big deals to set to follow.
A new striker is wanted by Pep Guardiola with Sergio Aguero coming to the end of his career, while he also suffered injury problems last season.
That could well be Lionel Messi after it emerged last week that the Barcelona superstar has sensationally handed in a transfer request.
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The City defence is also an area that is in need of an overhaul with nine defeats in the Premier League a problem that needs addressing.
Vincent Kompany left last summer to take over as player/manager of Anderlecht and he was not replaced.
Aymeric Laporte suffered an injury and missed several months while there are doubts about John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.
Eric Garcia did emerge as a promising young talent but he does not want to sign a new contract and has been linked with a move back to Barcelona.
Now is understood City have their sights on Napoli’s outstanding centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.
Here at talkSPORT.com, we’ve taken a look at who has signed for City so far this summer, their remaining transfer targets and how Man City could look as they aim to topple Liverpool in 2020/21…
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Lionel Messi
Hold on to your hats if this one happens.
The Barcelona ace, a living legend thanks to his exploits over the last 16 years, wants out of Barcelona and the Citizens are doing all they can to sign him.
It will be a logistical nightmare trying to get it around UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations but if anyone can get it done it’s them.
The magical Argentine currently has a £631m release clause but Messi wants Barca to honour an agreement to let him go for FREE.
Messi is understood to have already spoken to Guardiola to express his desire to move to City, and his father is set for talks with Barca chiefs this week to try to find a resolution to his son’s future.
Premier League defences will be quaking in their boots if he arrives at the Etihad.
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Nathan Ake
The defender was signed from Bournemouth following their relegation to the Championship.
He cost £41million and has all the attributes that Guardiola is looking for in a defender, especially as he can also play as a left-back or, in a pinch, defensive midfield.
Ake is fast and talented with the ball at his feet. He will also be working with one of the best coaches in world football and has room to improve.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the 25-year-old expressed his desire to win trophies under Pep Guardiola.
Nathan Ake was signed for £41million
“City have been the best side in England over the course of the last decade,” he said.
“Coming here is a dream for me. This is a top side full of world-class players. Everywhere you look in this squad there are big names with international pedigree.
“Pep is a manager admired across the world – what he’s done in the game speaks for itself. The success he’s had is unbelievable and the style of football he plays really appeals to me.
“I know I’m going to have to work hard to get into the side, but that’s what I’m here to do. I’ll do whatever I can to make an impact and help the team win silverware.”
City will give him the chance to win trophies and it will be competitive for those starting spots.
Ake left Bournemouth for Manchester City
Ferran Torres
The Spaniard was signed from Valencia as a direct replacement for Leroy Sane, who joined Bayern Munich.
The winger is still only 20 and has bags of talent that will hopefully flourish at the Etihad.
Former Tottenham and Man United player Terry Gibson – who currently works as a Spanish football pundit – hailed Man City for this stunning piece of transfer business.
He told talkSPORT: “He’s lovely to watch and the Premier League will enjoy having him. He’s predominantly right footed but can easily control the ball and manipulate the ball with his left. He’s a dribbler, a wide player with pace. He has played behind the centre forward as well. So they are getting a stunning player.
“He’s probably very similar [to Sterling and Mahrez]. In terms of quality as well he will surprise a lot of people.
Ferran Torres has been backed to make a big impact at City
Kalidou Koulibaly
More centre-backs are on Guardiola’s wish list with John Stones likely to leave this summer. He will not want a situation like last season where he was forced to play Fernandinho there on a regular basis.
City are very keen on Koulibaly and reports over the weekend suggested they have already agreed personal terms with the Napoli star, who is rated at around £70million.
The 29-year-old is very highly rated and is constantly linked with a move away from the Serie A club.
The main problem Guardiola would find is how to fit all the players in to his starting line-up.
Koulibaly is seen as one of the best centre-backs in the world
How Man City could line-up next season
Man City already have a wealth of talent at their disposal up front and goals weren’t even the real problem last season.
They were the top scorers int he Premier League with 102 – 17 more than Liverpool managed.
But if City sign Messi then it will only add to their potency.
Torres mainly played on the right for Valencia and is predominantly right-footed, making an excellent replacement for Messi, with the option to go wide instead of inside.
Riyad Mahrez will fear for his place in the team but Bernardo Silva would more than likely pick a role a full-time No.8, coming in for Kevin De Bruyne, more often than not.
Don’t be surprised either ends up playing some games on the left – Guardiola is a fan of playing inverted wingers.
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In midfield, there will be no David Silva to rely on but City have a ready-made replacement in Phil Foden.
De Bruyne was the best player in the Premier League last season and Rodri showed why City signed him.
At the back, Koulibaly would likely initially get the nod ahead of Ake but the trio, along with Laporte, would be rotated. This could be especially important with the amount of games being packed in the season.
Guardiola could also play around with his formations to incorporate three at the back but the 4-3-3 has been his favoured system for some time.
Meanwhile, there is also a chance he could play Ake as a left-back – although Benjamin Mendy will have something to sau with Kyle Walker pushing on down the right flank.
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