Wily Guardiola could weigh up relegated options
CITY are pressing ahead with one or two additions to their doublewinning squad for next season.
Pep Guardiola wants a midfielder and a forward as his transfer priorities, with Napoli’s Jorginho and Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez at the top of the shopping list.
There will have to be provisions made, though, for unexpected sales – see Aleks Kolarov to Roma for instance – and there are always opportunities with the relegated clubs.
Harry Maguire and Andrew Robertson have both gone from the Championship for a World Cup and Champions League final respectively in 12 months.
Are there any players from West Brom, Swansea, and Stoke that could interest the Premier League champions?
Given City are looking for marquee signings in midfield and attack, there doesn’t seem much point in seeking out players in those areas of the pitch.
Ederson’s new deal at the Etihad until 2025 puts paid to the idea of another goalkeeper too – however good Jack Butland has been over the past few seasons.
That leaves defence as the best opportunity.
Guardiola was using three centrebacks before Benjamin Mendy’s long-term injury and is open to reverting to that formation in future.
With that in mind, given there are only four senior centre-backs in the squad, including Vincent Kompany, a defender could end up a wily acquisition. ALFIE MAWSON, £20M Not exactly cheap for a relegated player but as City have shown with their recent purchases, a player’s value is determined by performance on the pitch.
At 23, the Swansea defender was rewarded for his performances last season with his first England call-up in March and already has Premier League clubs interested.
Mawson represents a cheaper, less-developed version of Maguire but would be available at a similar price to the Leicester man last season.
Being one of the few Premier League players to sign up to Juan Mata’s Common Goal scheme puts a tick in the character box that Guardiola holds dear, too. JONNY EVANS, £3M Judging by reaction to City’s interest in the last two transfer windows, ex-United man Evans would have to do a bit of work to win the home faithful round.
However, there can be no denying the experience the West Brom captain has gained in his career and a title-winning international defender would be a useful addition to most squads.
Add in a basement price – due to a relegation clause in the 30-yearold’s contract – and it is almost impossible for the deal to flop. CRAIG DAWSON, £12M Dawson was one of the better players in West Brom’s underwhelming season and is expected to earn a move back to the Premier League this summer.
A central defender by trade, Tony Pulis’s love for cramming as many centre-backs as possible into his team has seen the former Rochdale player used at right-back for some time now.
That would come in handy for a defence that will be required to be fluid under Guardiola.
As with any back-up signing, Dawson wouldn’t excite the fanbase but could prove an inspired bit of business.