Report: Guardiola eyeing 8 new signings at Manchester City
Incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is apparently done assessing the squad he's set to adopt in the summer, and believes it requires eight new players to meet his high standards.
The Spaniard wants a goalkeeper, two full-backs, two central defenders, a central midfielder, a speedy winger, and support for striker Sergio Aguero to join him in Manchester, club sources told ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney. Those moves could reportedly see the club's hierarchy splurge over £300 million.
Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte and Everton's John Stones are Guardiola's priority signings, reports Delaney, and they've long been touted as new, young recruits to compete in the middle of a back four. City director of football Txiki Begiristain was recently photographed meeting with Ilkay Gundogan's uncle, who represents the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, and they've reportedly struck a deal in principle.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is rumoured as a signing to upgrade Joe Hart's current backup of Willy Caballero. The German denied Tuesday that he's made any agreement with City, but remained open about his future at the end of the season.
Wilfried Bony's disappointing spell in the northwest since his January 2015 transfer from Swansea City is expected to end this summer, but Delaney reports that no player's yet been identified to fill the void.
City certainly fills the 25-man quota for Premier League and Champions League duty, so Guardiola is simply seeking upgrades on what Manuel Pellegrini currently has at his disposal at the Etihad Stadium.
Here are the players that could have underwhelmed the Chilean's successor, with their potential replacements from Delaney's story as well as reports from the Manchester Evening News, the Evening Standard, and the Mirror:
| Position | Out | In |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Willy Caballero | Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) |
| Full-back | Aleksandar Kolarov | David Alaba (Bayern Munich) |
| Full-back | Gael Clichy | Danny Rose (Tottenham) |
| Centre-back | Martin Demichelis | John Stones (Everton) |
| Centre-back | Eliaquim Mangala | Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao) |
| Central midfielder | Fernando | Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund) |
| Winger | Jesus Navas | Andre Green (Aston Villa) |
| Striker | Wilfried Bony | Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) |
City's 2-2 draw at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night puts it in the driver's seat for progression from the Champions League quarter-finals. A League Cup triumph aside, however, City has underwhelmed in the Premier League and FA Cup, with many pointing at attitude issues in the squad following announcement of Guardiola's arrival back in February.
City returns from the French capital to welcome West Bromwich Albion to Eastlands on Saturday.