Manchester City's starting XI could look very different after the summer transfer window with new signings and departures expected.
City considers move for rice
The summer transfer window won't go as planned for Manchester City, but that doesn't mean they can't be stronger.
Ilkay Gundogan's departure will be a blow. Not only have City lost their captain for the fourth summer in a row, but this time around a player who is playing perhaps the best football of his career and remains an integral part of Pep Guardiola's squad.
Gundogan scored twice in the FA Cup final and added two more doubles in crucial games to win the Premier League. He started every major City game and is still at his peak, unlike Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho before they left.
Guardiola and everyone else at the club are keen for him to stay, but he is expected to leave Barcelona when his contract at the Etihad expires at the end of the month. He will have a few replacements but City have made a promising start.
Mateo Kovacic passed his medical on Friday when City reached an agreement to sign him from Chelsea. While the 29-year-old is not the age-lowering signing of the Blues midfield, he certainly has many of the same qualities as the departed Gundogan. Kovacic is a dynamic box-to-box midfielder who likes to stick to tough challenges and win loose balls as well as move through smooth passes. It remains to be seen whether he can replace Gundogan's goal threat or if he is capable of delivering what Guardiola demands of him, but he has the technical skills that allow him She blends in perfectly in City.
However, he is not considered by the club to be a direct replacement for Gundogan and he is not the midfielder's only target. Man City's lack of midfield options was somewhat masked by the significant transformation of John Stones last season, but they are quite light in numbers, even more so with the departure of Gundogan.
Given that Kalvin Phillips seems unpopular with Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne could miss the start of the season through injury, new signings are needed. City missed out on Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid and as a result, they turned their interest to Declan Rice.
West Ham's talisman continues to shine in one of the Premier League's weaker sides and led the Hammers to the European Championship last season. Rice is leaving the London Stadium this summer and despite being Arsenal's main target, City are considering usurping his transfer.
It remains to be seen whether City will spend the £100m West Ham want on their captain, but if they do, he would make a great signing. Rice can be a little rough around the edges right now, but he has great momentum, a quick pass and can be aggressive in front of the press. It's interesting to think how much better he can get under Guardiola.
May city XI
The defense is another key position that City will need to strengthen. Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte both seem to be headed for the exits and Kyle Walker's future is also in doubt. If only one of the full-backs leaves, City can manage without replacing him as they managed to comfortably go without Cancelo when he was loaned to Bayern Munich.
John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji could function at full-back during the season with Rico Lewis and Walker in reserve.
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