Ten players being linked with Manchester City who could be good signings for the club this summer.
Hernanes (Lazio)
This talented Brazilian midfielder has been a hit in Serie A for the last few years since joining the club from Sao Paulo in 2010. Hernanes is a good box-to-box midfielder who does his defensive work but also gets forward to good effect, earning a reputation as a reliable goal-scoring midfielder. The 28-year-old scored 14 times this season, and is particularly well known for his powerful long range efforts. Needless to say, there’s plenty there that would make him a vast improvement on some of Manchester City’s current midfield options. The club have already signed his fellow countryman Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk, and Hernanes would be an excellent partner for him, giving the team a bit more bite in the middle of the park, and taking the pressure off Yaya Toure to be the team’s main driving force from deep. He has been linked with a £20million move and is said to have welcomed the interest from City, so there’s a good chance this could happen and that can only be good news in City’s bid to win back the title next season.
Thiago Alcantara (Barcelona)
A number of Europe’s top clubs are on red alert after hearing about the supposed availability of Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The young Spaniard is a talented midfield playmaker, who is simply very unfortunate to be at the same club as the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas, meaning he has understandably spent a lot of time on the bench. There is no doubt Alcantara would improve many teams, and Manchester City are said to be one of many considering a bid for the 22-year-old. Despite limited appearances this season, he has still managed 2 goals and 5 assists for Barca, and his immense potential could be an exciting prospect for City. Manuel Pellegrini will know the Spanish league well and is targeting a number of players from La Liga, so Alcantara could well be one of them. However, he will face a lot of competition from the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich and even Real Madrid. If City pull it off, they will be signing a great young prospect who could certainly link up well with fellow Spaniard David Silva at the Etihad Stadium.
Paul Pogba (Juventus)
After somewhat failing to make the grade at Manchester United, Paul Pogba joined Juventus on a free last summer, and is now showing himself to be one of the world’s most exciting young midfielders. Arsenal are also showing an interest in the Frenchman, and will go head-to-head with City with a £17million bid for him. This would no doubt be controversial and make him deeply unpopular with United fans, but City won’t care if they can land themselves a great long-term replacement for Yaya Toure. Pogba also has connections with City’s chief development executive Patrick Vieira, who has expressed his admiration for the player, and could be working behind the scenes to persuade him to move to the Etihad Stadium.
Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid)
Although they have just completed the signing of one winger from La Liga, Jesus Navas, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini remains a fan of Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria. The Argentine has shown himself to be a useful attacker, skilled in getting both goals and assists from a variety of positions, on either flank or drifting behind the striker. He is believed to have fallen slightly out of favour at the Bernabeu now, and could be available for the right price this summer as the Spanish giants plot a clear-out to rebuild their squad and put in a better challenge against Barcelona for La Liga next year. The 25-year-old is certainly a joy to watch at his best and would be a good addition for City, who, even with Navas, could do with more in wide areas as James Milner and Samir Nasri have both been so disappointing since their big-money moves from Aston Villa and Arsenal respectively. In a season when he was considered slightly off-form, Di Maria still managed 9 goals and 17 assists, so City will have a real player on their hands if they can get him back to his best.
Adil Rami (Valencia)
With Kolo Toure leaving the club for Liverpool and Joleon Lescott also likely to be shown the door this summer, City will be a bit short of depth at centre-back. Vincent Kompany and Mateja Nastasic are an excellent pairing, though with the latter still being a youngster Pellegrini might be keen to strengthen in this area. Continuing his raid on La Liga, he has been linked with Valencia defender Adil Rami. The Frenchman has said he is keen to move clubs this summer as he wants to play for a bigger name to help establish himself as first choice in the French national side at next summer’s World Cup. This has also alerted interest from Arsenal and Manchester United, though City are now said to be stepping up their interest and could make an excellent signing here with Rami available on the cheap. The 27-year-old is regarded as one of the most consistent defenders in La Liga and if he can adjust well to the English game he could make himself first choice at the Etihad Stadium. He may be slightly put off by the competition ahead of him at City, as he will want to make sure he’s playing regularly before the World Cup, but he may still be tempted by City’s growing stature in European football and the possibility of silverware.
Pepe (Real Madrid)
Another option from La Liga for Manchester City and Manuel Pellegrini is Real Madrid defender Pepe. The 30-year-old has developed well at the Bernabeu under the guidance of Jose Mourinho in the last few years, and could now be the subject of a £20million bid from City. This tough and uncomprimising centre-back would certainly fit in with the fighting spirit of the Premier League and his experience could be invaluable for City, who are still feeling their way into the pressures of the Champions League, having twice in a year now failed to progress past the group stages. Either Pepe or Rami would be an excellent addition, though it seems unlikely that Pellegrini would sign both of them. Still, even though attack was arguably more of an issue for City last season, an improvement in defence is clearly still high on the agenda, and Pepe would be a good move, and could be available as Real Madrid are reportedly lining up a move for Chelsea’s David Luiz as a replacement.
Isco (Malaga)
Isco has earned rave reviews for his performances in La Liga with Malaga this season, getting himself onto the radar of many top clubs. Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid were all known to be keen on him, but with Pellegrini leaving Malaga for Manchester City, it now seems likely that he will bring his star player with him to the Etihad Stadium. The 21-year-old would prove an excellent addition to the squad and City will be glad to bring in a big name such as him to help them in their title quest next season. His ability as a playmaker will take the work-load off the jaded David Silva, and he is also very capable of getting into the box to score goals, something City could probably have with more of from midfield this season. The Spaniard should cost around £28million, which won’t be seen as too much for City, and they can spend it in the knowledge that they are surely landing themselves a player who will be one of the best in the world for many years to come.
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Marco Reus is one of many players being linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund this season, following a disappointing year in which they were swept aside by their all-conquering rivals Bayern Munich, who took the Bundesliga title off them and also beat them in the Champions League final at Wembley. Manchester City are one of the teams looking at him, and Manuel Pellegrini is said to hold him in high esteem, prompting rumours of the club making a £32million offer for the German. The 24-year-old has only been with the club for one season, but his 18 goals and 11 assists playing behind main striker Robert Lewandowski have made quite an impression, and it would certainly be exciting to see such a talent plying his trade in the Premier League. Reus is capable of playing upfront, and that might be how Pellegrini uses him if the Chilean manager also brings in the likes of Isco or Thiago Alcantara to play in attacking midfield.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had another excellent season at new club PSG, adding another title win in another country to his impressive collection, and earning plaudits for his eye-catching displays. Even at 31, he is still regarded as one of the best players in the world and one worth spending big money on. After supposedly falling out with PSG director Leonardo shortly after the club’s Ligue 1 title victory, the Swede is now reportedly a target for both Chelsea and Manchester City. The former Barcelona man has not ruled out a move, and could finally be set for a spell in England, which could be an ambition of his given his nomadic career to date. With the likes of Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko likely to be sold in the summer due to their inconsistent displays, a new striker will surely be high on the agenda, and Ibrahimovic would certainly be an intriguing purchase. There aren’t many other clubs besides City who could afford his enormous wages and transfer fee, so this seems a likely move, and one that will make the Premier League infinitely more interesting as his eccentric nature means he always gives fans and pundits alike something to talk about.
Edinson Cavani (Napoli)
Certainly one of the best strikers in the world at the moment, Edinson Cavani’s form for Napoli over the last few years has attracted attention from the biggest clubs around Europe. Manchester City are currently favourites to sign the Uruguayan, but Chelsea are rumoured to be lining up a massive £54million bid plus possibly Fernando Torres in exchange, while City will try to dempt the Serie A side to take Edin Dzeko as part of the deal. Real Madrid are also interested in the 26-year-old and it will surely be between these three clubs as there are few others who could afford the kind of big money that this world class talent would command. Cavani has 104 goals in 138 games for Napoli, an outstanding record, and would surely have a big say on the title race next season, adding that kind of finishing ability to either of these teams, where he would surely only improve with the kind of service coming from the likes of David Silva behind him. An Aguero-Cavani partnership would be up there with one of the best in the world, and would provide a major boost for new manager Pellegrini if he can pull it off.