There is no doubt that Pep Guardiola is going to shake things up when he takes over at Manchester City. The disorganised and inconsistent nature of City’s campaign this season will have to be addressed, and the world renowned tactician will have no qualms about getting rid of the dead weight and replacing it with shiny new cogs in his well-oiled machine. Reports suggest that he will be given £150million to spend on new players, and with that kind of money he could bring in the very best. City fans have a good right to get excited, but it may also mean that they have to say goodbye to some of their beloved heroes.
Although Yaya Toure has shown this season on a number of occasions that he is still a world-class operator, it is unlikely that Guardiola will keep him when he joins. There was no space for the four-time African Footballer of the Year in the Spaniard’s Barcelona set-up, and reports suggest that Toure is already considering his options for next year, with a lucrative move to China looking most likely. A player of Toure’s calibre would certainly put the Chinese Super League on the map.
With the kind of money available to Guardiola when he joins, he could potentially sign almost anyone. But first of all he may wish to assess what he has to work with and see how he can mould the current crop to playing in his style. The two-time Champions League winner is passionate and focused on possession-based football, and there are a few players who could work well with this concept. There is little doubt that David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero will still form the backbone of this team, but adjustments may need to be made around them.
Sergio Busquets has already expressed an interest in a reunion with his former manager, and there is also speculation that Guardiola may make a swoop for Paul Pogba. These would be two excellent acquisitions to bolster a midfield that has failed to dominate possession during the current campaign.
Guardiola may enjoy working with Raheem Sterling, as the young forward has displayed a lot of potential, which is one of the reasons why City spent so much on him last summer. He still isn’t a complete player, though, and is lacking in front of goal. With Guardiola’s training, he may become a vital part of the future City team.
Guardiola has worked with some of the finest players in the world, and City fans will be salivating at the thought that he may use the money to bring one or two of them to the blue side of Manchester. It would not be totally out of the question for him to swoop for Neymar, or Lionel Messi, and if he were to do so then it would spell very exciting times ahead at the Etihad.
