Daily Trust Sunday

Guardiola gunning for Busquets, Van Dijk, Sanchez

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is plotting a summer spending spree of £160m that will see him make three new signings.

Guardiola has targeted Alexis Sanchez, Virgil Van Dijk and Sergio Busquets as he looks to make City the dominant force in European football.

Guardiola has met with Etihad bosses to discuss his plans and given them the list of targets he wants.

He told them he wanted a new striker, centre back and defensive midfielder to replace Yay Toure, who will be leaving the club in June.

The Spanish boss has been interested in signing Sanchez since replacing Manuel Pellegrini as boss in 2016.

He came close to landing the Arsenal superstar in the summer, but the deal fell through at the last minute when the Gunners failed to get a replacemen­t in.

But Sanchez is now running down his contract at the Emirates with a view to joining City at the end of the season.

It is understood Sanchez has made it clear to Etihad bosses he wants to join them and personal terms have already been agreed in principle.

City are willing to hand the Chile ace a mega deal worth more than £60m over five seasons.

Guardiola has also set his sights on luring unsettled Southampto­n ace Van Dijk to the Etihad.

The Holland internatio­nal wanted to join Liverpool in the summer, but the move collapsed amid huge acrimony and embarrassm­ent.

Guardiola is also plotting a shock raid on former club Barcelona for Spanish internatio­nal Busquets.

Guardiola regards the 29-year-old as the ideal replacemen­t for Toure and is hoping to land him in a £50m deal.

He gave Busquets his Barca debut and between them the pair went on to win two Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns during their time together at the Nou Camp.

 ?? Alexis Sanchez ??
Alexis Sanchez

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