Guardiola is looking to go Bad yet again
PEP Guardiola could make a renewed bid for Holger Badstuber after missing out on the German in January.
City explored the possibility of a loan deal for the Bayern Munich centre-back, who Guardiola knew well from his time at the Allianz Arena.
Badstuber eventually headed to Schalke on a six-month loan and has since confirmed he will leave Bayern as a free agent this summer.
Guardiola plans to overhaul his defence during the next transfer window, with Pablo Zabaleta the first confirmed departure.
Fellow out-of-contract players Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy are also expected to leave the Etihad, while City will try to find a permanent move for Eliaquim Mangala who is currently on loan at Valencia.
Guardiola intends to sign two new full-backs, with the club increasingly confident a deal for Tottenham’s Kyle Walker can be reached.
The City manager also wants a top-class centre-back to partner with John Stones - placing doubts over the future of Nicolas Otamendi.
The Argentine slipped at a crucial moment for Shinji Okazaki’s goal in the 2-1 win against Leicester on Saturday.
Vincent Kompany’s return from injury has boosted his chances of being an integral part of City’s plans - but Guardiola has made it clear he cannot rely on the Belgian international’s long-term fitness. Leonardo Bonucci and Virgil van Dijk are two potential options this summer - but Badstuber would represent a bargain as a free agent.
Guardiola said: “I know Holger is a top player, very nice guy, but when we are going to make a decision you will know it in the right place and the right time.”
Guardiola plans to bring in younger full-backs to offer more dynamism in wide areas.
In recent weeks he has turned to Jesus Navas and Fernandinho at right-back.
“What I’m looking for when I use Jesus or Fernandinho is for something more in an offensive way,” said Guardiola. “Or when I need the full-backs inside to play more like midfield players.
“When I play with Jesus Navas we can attack more - he is a guy who is fast, he can attack, he has the resilience to go up and down a lot of times.”
Guardiola failed in a move for Hector Bellerin last summer.
Danny Rose has long-been a target at left-back, with Schalke’s Sead Kolasinac another under consideration.