Manchester City has activated its squad rebuilding plan. Despite qualifying for next season’s Champions League, they are currently fourth in the league with 65 points and two games remaining. Guardiola had previously stated, “We haven’t had a good season.”

The lack of new signings, Rodri’s injury, endless injury waves, and poor performances from many stars eliminated City from the title race early and saw them exit the Champions League prematurely. Pep Guardiola’s project at City has reached its lowest point.

However, Guardiola still has at least two years left on his contract (until 2027) and aims to restore the club to its peak. The rebuilding of Manchester City and the construction of its second version will begin this summer, following Guardiola’s checklist.

The departure of Kevin De Bruyne, potential sales of Jack Grealish or Bernardo Silva, and players like Maximo Perrone and Hugo Viana will force City’s new sporting director to make several key signings in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Whether these players arrive in time for the Club World Cup, where City will face Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain, and Juventus in the group stage, strengthening the squad in several positions is essential: from full-back to striker and midfield.

City spent over €200 million in winter on Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdulkadir Husanov, and Vitor Reis, but summer investments are expected to be even higher, especially when linked names like Teun Koopmeiners, Tino Livramento, or Florian Wirtz won’t come cheap.

Walker’s Successor(s)

Right-back has been one of the most problematic positions for Guardiola this season. With Kyle Walker’s form declining sharply, his January loan move to Milan left a gap that young Rico Lewis couldn’t fill.

The solution was to play midfielder Matheus Nunes, a €60 million signing, in this position. Guardiola had said Nunes “isn’t smart enough” to play in midfield, but he has adapted well to this emergency role.

With Kyle Walker set to leave the Etihad next season, Fabrizio Romano reports: “There is a shortlist of four players for this position, and Manchester City will decide before the Club World Cup.”

Gianluca Di Marzio recently announced that City is “trying to sign Wesley, Flamengo’s right-back.” If the 21-year-old is the first option, the second will be Tino Livramento. The 22-year-old Newcastle full-back, who can play on both flanks, is “among City’s options for right-back.”

Signing this English international won’t be cheap for City, as Newcastle, fighting for Champions League qualification, paid over €37 million for him in 2023.

In addition to these two names, two Juventus players are also in the mix: Andrea Cambiaso (left-back) and Nicolò Savona (right-back). The first was a target for City last winter, but Juventus demanded €60 million for his transfer.

Rodri and Another

Although Rodri is Manchester City’s midfield engine and the new Ballon d’Or winner, his severe knee injury, which kept him out for almost the entire season, left City’s midfield depleted even before his decline.

The disastrous signing of Kalvin Phillips and the lack of a natural replacement for Rodri forced City to bring in Nico Gonzalez for €60 million in winter, but he couldn’t fill the void. Neither Mateo Kovacic nor Ilkay Gündogan, upon his return to Manchester, performed well as a defensive midfielder.

The English Telegraph exclusively reported: “Manchester City has chosen Teun Koopmeiners, AC Milan’s midfielder, as a serious summer target. He is a classic No. 8 who has also performed effectively as a defensive midfielder. Milan values him much higher than the €65 million Newcastle paid for Sandro Tonali.”

The Challenge of Replacing De Bruyne

The most sensitive and simultaneously hardest loss to replace is Kevin De Bruyne.

After his official departure announcement at the end of the season, the 33-year-old Belgian will leave the Etihad as a Manchester City and Premier League legend. Although injuries can’t erase what he has done for the club over the past decade, they ultimately led to his departure.

Kevin De Bruyne’s endless talent isn’t replaceable overnight, but the players most linked to replace him are not only expensive but also highly talented.

While rumors suggested Florian Wirtz had chosen Bayern Munich, German newspaper Bild revealed that Manchester City has made an official offer for the 22-year-old German. With Bayer Leverkusen still demanding €150 million for their talented attacking midfielder, Christian Falk of Bild notes that “Florian Wirtz flew to Manchester with his parents to meet Pep Guardiola.”

City’s interest in Leverkusen’s current player isn’t new, nor is their interest in Morgan Gibbs-White. The Athletic reported weeks ago: “Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz are among the options City is considering to replace captain Kevin De Bruyne in the summer.”

His brilliant performances this season have solidified his place in the England national team. The Telegraph added: “Morgan Gibbs-White has admirers at Manchester City and can play in multiple positions.”

And a Few Surprises…

At Manchester City, it is predicted that at least four or five signings will be made next summer. While some positions need more reinforcement, changes may occur in all areas, including goalkeepers.

After Saudi football tempted Ederson multiple times, at the end of April, Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato pointed to a potential replacement for the Brazilian goalkeeper: Diogo Costa.

The Portuguese Porto goalkeeper, valued at €60 million, has given the green light to this move and said yes to Guardiola’s team. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is doing everything to get City to pay €40 million for him.