We've already been linked with a number of players, one thing that makes me feel extremely happy is that finally we are being linked with a large number of Defenders. While I acknowledge that our defence has been poor this season, it's worth highlighting that they haven't really done a bad job considering we are still in the top four and a Champions League position. So while they have been unworthy of the Premier League title, they don't deserve any level of abuse. Peps Philosophy has after all left our ageing Defenders in their 30's, open to counter attacks from much younger and fitter opponents.
These are the Players below who are rumoured to be Pep's targets, I'm going to run the rule over them for you.
Goalkeeper
Ederson is a Keeper I like the look of, he ticks all the boxes and I've been aware for some time that City are seriously showing significant interest in the lad, I think this one will happen for sure.
Ederson Morae (23) Market Value £10 million, Ederson is a Brazilian Keeper who can play as a Sweeper Keeper. (Probable)
Defenders
Unfortunately we're a few seasons off producing any Wing backs ready to step up with a few of them learning their trade out on loan, so we'll have to go in to the transfer window looking for them. It's no new news that our wing backs are all over 30, We've been linked with Spurs left back Danny Rose aged (26) but his market value is currently around £17 million and to prize him away from Spurs we're looking at over double that fee with inflation on English players sky high.
Jose Luis Gaya (21) Is a Spanish Left back who can also play in left midfield. Market Value £15 million. (Probable)
Álex Grimaldo (21) aka Alejandro Grimaldo is a Spanish Left back who can also play in Center Midfield and Left wing. Market Value £6 million. (Probable)
Sead Kolašinac (23) Bosnian Left back who can also play in Defencive Midfield and Left wing back. Market Value £7.7million. (Possible)
Benjamin Mendy (22) French Left back Mendy can also play at Left Midfield, has impressed for AS Monaco. Market Value £8 million (Possible)
Benjamin Henrichs (20) is a German Right back who also plays at Left back and in Attacking Midfield. Market Value £9 million. (Possible)
Jury is out on Virgil van Dijk for me, while he has promise he hasn't exactly improved since leaving Celtic, I view Celtic as a mid table club and I mean no offence by that, mid table in the Premier League is still a tough position to hold. We really need to find a player capable of replacing Vinny Kompany, I don't see van Dijk as the one to do that.
Virgil van Dijk (25) Market Value £21 million (Unlikely)
Juventus Defender Leonardo-Bonucci (29) Market Value £34 million, for 29 the figure upwards of £34 million is quite a steep number, if Juve were willing to sell at say £20 million then I'd support the signing of Bonucci. The Media have swarmed all over this one with Guardiola saying he likes the Defender, to Bonucci saying he's flattered and happy. But that doesn't mean to say we're going to sign the player, or that he's worth the current asking price. I suppose this one boils down to whether our Owner Sheikh Mansour and City feels Bonucci is worth the huge investment, will it happen? I'm not so sure it will. Reports are in that Juve would be demanding around £60 million, ludicrous.
Leonardo-Bonucci (29) Market Value £34 million (Possible)
For £4 million Portuguese Pepe he still has a season or two in him at the highest level, he's an immediate solution if we struggle to find a younger defender to replace Vinny. Pepe will want to end his career on a high, and there's no one better to follow than Patrick Vieira who ended his career at City successfully. Although Real Madrid are preparing to offer their Defender a new one year deal, City offering more could land the club a short term fix.
Pepe (34) Market Value £4 million (Possible)
Midfielders
Didn't want to cover this one as I believe it's just a joke, Wilfried Zaha who plays In Leroy Sane's Right back position makes no sense, he is no where near good enough to even play in our reserves and nothing more needs to be said.
Wilfried Zaha (24) Market Value £10 million (Unlikely)
We've been linked with Real Madrid's James Rodriguez (25), an Attacking Midfielder who can play both left and right but, his market value is a high £42.5 million. It's unlikely that Pep would consider signing Rodriguez when we already have Leroy Sane and Sterling able to operate on both wings.
James Rodriguez (25) Market Value £42.5 million (Unlikely)
We've been linked with German Center Midfielder Joshua Kimmich (22) Market Value £22 million, to pry him away from Bayern Munich it would take over double that fee and I don't see Bayern even selling the player. Besides we already have David Silva who has more seasons in him, and Kevin De Bruyne in his position.
Joshua Kimmich (22) Market Value £22 million (Unlikely)
AM Brahim Diaz (17) a Manchester City Attacking Midfielder, Diaz will end up a far better player than Dele Alli and cost us nothing while he's at it. He can also play at Right wing giving us a replacement for Jesus Navas who is clearly not good enough. I strongly believe Diaz is ready to step up even at such a young age, he will no doubt to on the Plane to the States with City in the Summer. Diaz has made 30 Appearances in all competitions this season for City's reserves scoring 9 Goals and 9 Assists.
Brahim Diaz (17) Free
Then we have Paolo Fernandes (18) a Spanish Central Attacking Midfielder in our youth ranks, he's made 27 Appearances for City, scoring 12 Goals and 5 Assists. Another player deserving of a place on the flight to the US with City.
Paolo Fernandes (18) Free
Real Madrid's Isco rumours just won't go away, City reportedly tried to sign him but he snubbed us for Real Madrid. I'm of one mind with players like this, never go back in for them but luckily for me I don't think Real Madrid are willing to sell him anyhow, so this ones dead in the water for me thankfully. Besides we already have Silva and De Bruyne.
Isco (24) Market Value £30 million (Unlikely)
Forwards
One striker light up front I'd say with only Aguero, Jesus and Iheanacho. I'd send Iheanacho out on loan to a Champions League club for one season, with a premature termination clause in case of injuries and sign Griezmann. While I see Iheanacho having a future with us, I think he deserves to play regular and we can't offer that currently with Aguero and Jesus ahead of him.
I think it's pointless going into the market for Alexis Sanchez when we already have Sergio Aguero,both aged (28), Sanchez's market value doesn't look all that great so unless Aguero was to leave City, then Sanchez is a pointless waste of cash. With Sanchez able to operate on both wings, he would prove a hindrance to Sane and Sterling also. There's still a strong possibility that we will sign Sanchez, but I don't think we really need him so to me he'd be a luxury buy.
CF Alexis Sanchez (28) Market Value £55.25 (Possible)
Same with us being linked to French Secondary Striker Antione Griezmann (26), he lacks the one thing we need in a secondary striker, height and he lacks it at 5ft 9 inches.
FW Antoine Griezmann (26) Market Value £68 million (Unlikely)
Torino's Italian Centre Forward Andrea Belotti (23) has been linked with Manchester City, while he's has a successful season at Torino scoring 26 Goals and Assisting 5, he can only play in that one position and is only 5ft 9 inches and doesn't fit the Guardiola mould. It's being touted that Joe Hart could be used as part of a deal for Belotti but, I just don't see this one happening.
FW Andrea Belotti (23) Market Value £26 million (Unlikely)
CF Lukas Nmecha (18) a Striker for Manchester City, English International who was born in Germany and another player I tip to make the Plane to the States in the Summer. I've been raving about this kid since joining us, he could still choose to turn out for Germany in the future. He joined city's academy in 2009 and earned his full scholarship in 2015, Nmecha's made 25 Appearances in all competitions this season for City's reserves scoring 18 goals and Assisting 2 goals.
Lukas Nmecha (18) Free
Lyon's French Center Forward Alexandre Lacazette (25) has had a super season making 38 Appearances, scoring 30 Goals and Assisting 4. Market Value £34 million While he is prolific he is only at 5ft 7 inches and right footed exactly like Aguero.
Alexandre Lacazette (25) Market Value £34 million (Possible) With Jesus Navas hopefully on his way out, English Attacking Midfielder Patrick Roberts currently at Celtic, can fill his void and play backup to Raheem Sterling, no brainer saving us some money.
Patrick Roberts (20) Free
FULL LIST
Jose Luis Gaya (21) Market Value £15 million (Probable) Video
Álex Grimaldo (21) Market Value £6 million (Probable) Video TIOC says sign him up
4 homegrown player listed below added to our player roster with only Gael Clichy and maybe Fabian Delph set to leave.
Brahim Diaz (17) Free
Paolo Fernandes (18) Free
Lukas Nmecha (18) Free
Patrick Roberts (20) Free
Pepe (34) Market Value £4 million (Possible)
Sanchez (28) Market Value £60 million (Possible)
Alexandre Lacazette (25) Market Value £34 million (Possible) Video
Leonardo-Bonucci (29) Market Value £34 million (Possible) Video
Benjamin Mendy (22) Market Value £8 million (Possible) Video
Sead Kolašinac (23) Market Value £7.7million (Possible) Video
Benjamin Henrichs (20) Market Value £9 million (Possible) Video
Virgil van Dijk (25) Market Value £21 million (Unlikely)
Wilfried Zaha (24) Market Value £10 million (Extremely unlikely)
James Rodriguez (25) Market Value £42.5 million (Unlikely)
Joshua Kimmich (22) Market Value £22 million (Unlikely)
Antione Griezmann (26) Market Value £68 million (Unlikely)
Andrea Belotti (23) Market Value £26 million (Unlikely)
Isco (24) Market Value £30 million (Unlikely)
Right back is a concern for me, Henrichs is the only Right back with a solid link to City that I'm aware of at present. I'm sure we'll be linked with many more player between now and the Summer window, intriguing times.
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