Most City transfers in recent years have been well-telegraphed (Bernardo Silva a rare surprise) , so it’s a fair bet we’re working hard to get Kyle Walker, Virgil Van Dijk and Bernard Mendy. Add them to Ederson in goal and B Silva as a creator, and that’s a hefty outlay for one window, improving both full back slots and the centre back options. There’d be less cover at full back, but Fernandinho and Kolorov (last season before out of contract) would see us through to next summer. If Otamendi stays (some rumours to the contrary) we’d have four good centre backs; three if Vinnie breaks down again.
Obviously we’ve released Caballero, Zabba, Sagna, Clichy and Navas. Unal already sold, and we’ll sell the out of favour Hart, Mangala, Nasri and Bony. I expected us to get William Carvalho as a holding midfielder, but Yaya’s new deal may imply that one will wait a year. I read that we’ve agreed a deal for Lucas Hernandez from Athletico Madrid (left back/left c back) for next summer (transfer ban for them this year…) who would replace Kolorov.
That leaves us needing to sell a non-home-grown current squad member for any new one we recruit. Nolito will go, making one space. Fernando might go, too. I’d expect us to cash in on Aaron Mooy and take any offers we get for Delph. Striker is fascinating: looks like Iheanacho is off, which disappoints me. Lots of links with Sanchez (superb player) and Mbappe (exciting and promising) but for me they give us nothing new. I’d have expected us to sign a big line-leader like Aubameyang, or a stop-gap move for Llorente.
This window already feels more like revolution than evolution…