Squad Planning 23/24 season-Manchester City

Manchester City are just coming off to the new season after winning the treble,so what’s the need of signing new player to an already elite established squad. As Pep Guardiola has said,“It’s almost impossible to keep winning with the same guys.”And not only the need to refresh the squad is a must but some of the players are not happy with their game time and the current squad has a decent number of players aged 28 and above.Now let’s take a look at how city play,for the majority 22/23 season City used a 3–2–5 on the ball where a fullback will invert to play in the pivot alongside Rodri with two wingers holding width,the 8’s operating in half spaces and Erling haaland in the middle, transforming to a 4–4–2 out of possession.And Pep also used 3–4–3 (diamond) structure on the ball with the inverted fullback in a higher line compared to the pivot and one of the cm dropping more deep,in some games at the end of the season and famously in the ucl final agaisnt Inter ,it could be the one that city use regularly next season given the current transfer signings and targets.

Now I’ll be reviewing all the positions and suggesting the incomings,outgoings and contract renewals :-

1.Goalkeeper (First Team players:Ederson,Ortega)

Ederson once again showed his quality in the champions league final silencing his critics and Ortega has been fantastic as a backup goalkeeper showing that he possesses the necessary qualities to even become the primary keeper.Scott Carson is an essential figure in the dressing room and has good relationship with the keepers .

So City don’t need any signing in this department.My only suggestion would be to start Ortega more often in the premier league games.Ederson is a completely different keeper in the ucl compared to premier league.

Zack steffen should be sold.James Trafford to be loaned preferably to a premier league side or sale with buy back clause.

2.Right Backs

The current first team options for city are Kyle Walker,Joao Cancelo and Rico Lewis.Cancelo is set to be leaving after joining bayern on loan in January due to lack of playtime and his disruptive nature in the dressing room. He would probably be sold for around 50m.There’s no doubt about how crucial Kyle Walker has been for the clubs success in recent years but he might be on his way out after he was unhappy with lack of playing time this season and missing out on starting in the champions league final.He’s turning 33 soon and relies a lot on physicallity in his game,with a year left on his contract I would recommend to sell him as he’s not the best inverting to midfield and his poor positional awareness is a huge drawback when playing as rcb in a back 3.

And that would leave Rico Lewis as the only right back.With John stones and akanji as other hybrid options.So a new signing will be required,my recommendations are:-

Benjamin Pavard and Wan Bissaka are similar profiles to walker and could play a more defensive role as rcb in a back 3 in possession and rb oop.Arnau Martinez(comfortable inverting to midfield),And Ivan Fresneda who can play both the roles.

3.Centre Backs (Ruben Dias,Nathan Ake,John Stones,Manuel

Akanji,Aymeric Laporte)

Centerbacks are essential in city’s current system where pep often uses 3/4 centerbacks in the starting 11.It was vital for the teams success last season.As pep emphasised on the need of duel winning defenders agaisnt explosive 1 vs 1 wingers such as Saka,Salah,Vinicius …etc.

Aymeric Laporte looks certain to leave in the summer,he was seen crying as City were presented the premier league trophy in May.He has been a great servant for the club but has lost his place in the starting lineup with the current needs of the team.I expect him to be sold for around 40–50m.And for his replacement I would suggest Josko Gvardiol with the rumours stating City’s interest in the player.One of the most promising CB prospect in Europe,Josko can play in a back 3,back4,is comfortable inverting to midfield and carry the ball and could also join the front 5 in attack.He takes City’s defence to another level in terms of athleticism and pure defending.

Luke Mbete and Callum Doyle should be loaned again and Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ loan spell at Burnley should be extended.

4.Left Backs

Sergio Gomez is the only natural lb at city and may be loaned next season.The current system doesn’t require a natural lb as we saw ake play as a hybrid lb in many games last season and akanji taking his place when he was injured.And with the signing of Gvardiol there is good enough depth for the position.

Josh Esbrand to be loaned again.

5.Midfielders

Rodri,Phillips,Perrone are the current first team options.Phillips hasn’t had the best of starts at City.He could turn it around next season and has no intentions of leaving.But I would prefer for city to go for Declan rice and use Phillips in a swap deal + cash for him.Rice is very valuable profile to have and could play as a cb,dmf,8 and as an inverted fullback.Maximo Perrone is still developing and acclimatising to English football.He may get to feature in a few games next season.

Currently the futures of both Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan are in doubt.And with de Bruyne set to miss the starting months of next season there is need for more depth.Phil foden‘s move to midfield has always been a question of time,he is amazing in half spaces just has to add the pausa in his game and understanding the rhythm of the game in which improvement has been visible in the last games.I expect him to play more games as a midfielder from next season.Bernardo is liekly to stay but Gundogan’s departure leaves a massive dent in city’s midfield,Caicedo,Lavia,Veiga,Locatelli,Sancet,Frenkie De Jong,Jacob Ramsey,Hatate are some players that City could sign with the already confirmed signing of Mateo Kovacic.James Mcatee was very impressive in his loan spell at Sheffield and is set to be a part of the first team next season. Thomas doyle’s loan spell at Sheffield should be extended.Oscar Bobb will also be with the first team squad next season he’s a bright prospect,Versatile,comfortable in the pockets, facing play or back to goal,wide or centrally.great game intelligence,amazing dribbler,Technically brilliant,top ball retention,uses ball/body manipulation well to evade pressure.He could play as cam or on the wings in 3–4–3.

6.Wingers(Jack Grealish,Riyad Mahrez,Phil Foden)

The position which needs the most strengthening.With foden moving to midfield and reports of mahrez open to a move to Saudi Arabia and Cole Palmer also set to leave on loan.City will need to sign new winger(s) Leao,Kulusevski,Mitoma,Diaby,Olise,Gnoto,Coman,Chukuweze are my favourites.Some unrealistic,others not so.Gabriel Veiga,Wirtz,Kudus and Guler are hybrid options who could play as an interior and a winger.Carlos Borges and Mebude could be given a chance to feature in the first team next season depending on what pep thinks about them in pre season.

So these were my views on ideal transfers/renewals for Man City to go into next season having the best possible squad.

Thanks for reading!!