Raheem deal would be latest in line of Pep’s like-for-like transfers
PEP Guardiola may have been involved in one of the biggest when exchanging Samuel Eto’o for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but swap deals are rare in today’s football market.
Arsenal’s attempt to secure a City player as well as money to sanction the sale of Alexis Sanchez is audacious, and the prospect of losing Raheem Sterling has split opinion among supporters.
As unlikely as straight trades are, Guardiola has been on a mission since arriving at the Etihad to upgrade the first team.
Even if City haven’t suggested Sterling for Sanchez, it would fit the pattern of direct replacements the manager has attempted during his time in charge of the Blues...
CLAUDIO BRAVO FOR JOE HART (AND EDERSON FOR BRAVO) THE signing that provided the biggest stick to beat the City boss with.
If you’re going to bomb out the England No.1, you need the player you replace him with to save shots. Bravo shockingly underperformed, drawing criticism with every shot he failed to save.
It was the biggest blunder of the year, although Ederson could have rectified that.
Of the three, Ederson looks the best option at the minute and has years ahead of him.
GABRIEL JESUS FOR WILFRIED BONY/KELECHI IHEANACHO IT was as underhyped at the time as Bravo was overhyped, but Jesus has already had a transformatory effect at the club.
With Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic both allowed to leave permanently, Wilfried Bony was also allowed to find another club on loan despite Jesus only arriving in January.
It didn’t take long after turning up in Manchester to relegate Iheanacho either, who has also subsequently left.
Whether or not he was nailed on for a starting berth when he signed, the young Brazilian has claimed one quickly and impressively.
JOHN STONES FOR... JOLEON LESCOTT? STONES could have been bought as the replacement for Nicolas Otamendi or Eliaquim Mangala but the Englishman is essentially the latest attempt to do Joleon Lescott’s job of being a solid partner to Vincent Kompany.
City’s centre-back struggles have gone on for some time and did not go away with the signing of Stones.
The fact he was left on the bench for the trip to Bournemouth suggests Guardiola still has doubts about Stones and Kompany together.
LEROY SANE FOR SAMIR NASRI HAVING declared Guardiola lucky for having him in April 2016, Nasri was sent out on loan by August.
The Frenchman’s talent means getting rid was never going to be universally popular as has again been demonstrated this summer - but the manager knew he had an ace up his sleeve.
After a slow start, Sane grew into the team and his electric pace and skill gives Guardiola a talent available to few other managers, certainly in the Premier League.
ALL OF THIS SUMMER’S FULL-BACKS A MUCH-NEEDED upgrade on many levels.
City’s decision not to invest in full-backs for so many years cost them last season.
Thus Benjamin Mendy, Danilo and Kyle Walker have all arrived, and while it is early days to judge, the trio they already have a lot more pace and energy than their predecessors.