The elimination of the Champions League against Real Madrid in the playoff round served as the end of the season for Guardiola’s Manchester City, who at this stage of the game can only fight to lift the FA Cup. With no options in the Premier League, where Liverpool are the clear favourites with a 13-point lead over second-placed Arsenal, the Sky Blues must reflect deeply and work to reorder their house and reshape the current squad. The investment of more than 200 million euros in January does not seem to have been enough to make the team work. Everything points to a profound restructuring of the squad managed by Spanish coach Pep Guardiola in the coming months.
A difficult season for Manchester City
As we mentioned, Manchester City have been knocked out of the Champions League. Real Madrid are in the last sixteen, after winning the tie 6-3 on aggregate against Guardiola’s team. In the first leg at the Etihad, Carlo Ancelotti’s side went behind twice through goals from Haaland, but first Mbappé and then Brahim equalized before Bellingham popped up in the dying moments to make it 2-3. With that advantage they arrived last night at the Santiago Bernabéu where an excellent Mbappé scored a hat-trick to leave the sky blues no chance.
In addition, in the League Cup, the ‘Citizens’ also went out earlier than expected, losing in the round of sixteen to Tottenham. With the Premier League practically lost, the FA Cup presents itself as Manchester City’s only chance to win a title this season.
Players who are surplus to requirements at City
Guardiola, who spent a significant amount on signings in January, wants to restructure and renew the team this summer. Everything seems to indicate that from Ederson in goal to Kevin De Bruyne they will all be leaving Manchester in a few months. Kevin De Bruyne will spearhead a summer clean-out at the Etihad, of which Kovacic will also be part. The 30-year-old Croatian could leave the team in the summer despite having a contract until 2027. The player already has several suitors on the market. One of them is Atlético Madrid. The Madrid-based club has already sounded out Mateo Kovacic in the past and could bring him back to La Liga.
Two targets for the summer market
After investing more than 200 million euros in Khusanov, Marmoush, Nico and Vitor Reis, Manchester City still has two pending tasks in the next winter transfer market: a right back, after the departure of Kyle Walker, and an attacking midfielder, with the more than likely departure of Kevin De Bruyne. In this sense, it is suggested that not only one full-back will arrive, but two: the Englishman (22 years old, Newcastle) Tino Livramento, and the Italian (25 years old, Juventus) Andrea Cambiaso.
Livramento has established himself as a footballer with great potential and the ability to fit into Guardiola’s system, who is looking for a player who can provide depth and balance on the right wing. City are reportedly willing to make a significant offer to secure his services. He is estimated to have a market value of around 40 million euros, although the “Magpies” could demand a higher figure to let him go.
On the other hand, Cambiaso, despite the fact that he can play on both wings, does so more on the left, and his incorporation would make sense not only as a replacement for Josko Gvardiol but also with a view to the Croatian being able to play as a centre-back