MANCHESTER CITY look like losing their Premier League crown to Liverpool this season.
So boss Pep Guardiola is set to go all out in the summer in a bid to reclaim the title.
As many as FIVE first-team players could leave the Etihad at the end of the season, with a while host of Europe’s finest rumoured to be coming in.
Priority for the Spaniard will be in defence, where Fernandinho has been deployed most of the season despite being a centre-midfielder.
Nicolas Otamendi will surely finally be offloaded, and Aymeric Laporte will be fighting back from serious injury.
The Spanish coach failed to replace captain Vincent Kompany last summer, and he is believed to have his sights set on highly-rated Benfica youngster Ruben Dias, 22.
SILVA’S FAREWELL SEASON
Also attracting interest from City is Villarreal’s Pau Torres, 22, who made his Spain debut in November.
Guardiola is also determined to sign a new left-back, with 24-year-old Leicester City ace Ben Chilwell top of his wish list.
That could see squad-man Angelino shipped out.
Further up the pitch, 34-year-old David Silva is calling time on his Etihad career after entering his tenth season at the club.
BAYERN BACK FOR SANE?
Guardiola would apparently like to bring in Saul Niguez, 25, from Atletico Madrid to add competition in the middle of the park.
With Bayern Munich likely to re-ignite their interest in Leroy Sane once he is back from injury, Guardiola believes Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal, 22, would be an ideal replacement.
Sergio Aguero shows no signs of slowing down and showed he still has the killer instinct with a hat-trick against Aston Villa last time out.
He should once again be the focal point of the attack next season in what could be his swansong with his contract up in June 2021.
He is expected to return to Argentina to see out his career in his homeland.
It could be a big season for Gabriel Jesus, who will be desperate to prove to Guardiola that he is the long-term replacement for Aguero. He is at risk of being flogged.
Pep Guardiola planning huge Man City overhaul with up to five transfer signings this year
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
