Manchester City have brought in a couple of quality additions during the summer transfer window, and they will be looking to defend their Premier League crown.
Pep Guardiola has the best squad in the Premier League, and he has improved it further this summer. However, the fans will still feel that a defensive addition would have been ideal this summer. Manchester City came into the window needing a specialist left-back and a winger.
While they have managed to address one of those issues, the Premier League are still quite short in the full-back areas. Here at The Hard Tackle, we run the rule over their transfer business this summer.
Ins and outs
Ins: Savinho, Ilkay Gundogan
Outs: Julian Alvarez, Joao Cancelo, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Sergio Gomez, Tommy Doyle
Free Transfers Out: None
Loaned Out: Yan Couto, Kalvin Phillips, Maximo Perrone
Marquee Signing
Savinho
The 20-year-old Brazilian winger arrived for a fee of around €25 million this summer, and he should prove to be a quality long-term investment for the Premier League champions. Manchester City needed more cutting edge and flair in the attack, and the South American should provide exactly that.
The youngster scored 11 goals and picked up 10 assists in all competitions last season, and he could transform Manchester City in the final third. He is only going to get better with coaching and experience. Someone like Guardiola could transform him into a world-class attacker. The reported fee could look like a major bargain in the long-term as well.
Value for Money Signing
Ilkay Gundogan
The German midfielder has returned to Manchester City on a free transfer, and it is certainly one of the best deals of the summer. Despite Gundogan’s advaning years, he is a world-class player who has proven himself in the Premier League time and again. He was an indispensable asset for Pep Guardiola before leaving the club for Barcelona.
His return improves Manchester City immensely in the middle of the park. Gundogan’s leadership qualities and experience could prove to be invaluable additions. Signing a player of his quality on a free transfer is a major bargain and Manchester City have pulled off a master stroke in bringing him back to the club. The midfielder knows the club and the league well, and he will be able to settle in quickly and make an instant impact.
Inevitable Departure
Julian Alvarez
The Argentine international attacker needed to play regularly at this stage of his career, and Manchester City would not have been able to provide him with that opportunity. Erling Haaland is the undisputed starter for the Premier league champions, and Alvarez was always going to leave the club in search of regular first team action.
The World Cup and Copa America winner is a phenomenal attacker in his own right, and he has joined Atletico Madrid this summer. He will look to establish himself as a pivotal figure for the Colchoneros, and it remains to be seen whether he can fulfil his world-class potential with regular football.
Julian Alvarez scored 19 goals and picked up 13 assists across all competitions last season, and Manchester City will certainly miss a top-class backup attacker like him.
The Big Miss
Ian Maatsen
The 22-year-old Dutch defender was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City during the summer window. He ended up signing for Aston Villa for a fee of around £37.5 million. The former Chelsea defender would have been an exceptional acquisition for Manchester City, and he would have solved a key weakness in their squad.
Manchester City do not have a specialist left-back at their disposal, and he would have been a long-term investment for them. The 22-year-old impressed on loan in the Bundesliga last season, and he has the quality to establish himself himself as a key player in the Premier League as well. He could have transformed Manchester City in the wide areas.
Verdict – 7/10
Manchester City came into the transfer window needing a left-back as a priority addition. They were using Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake as the left-back last season, and they need to bring in a specialist full back this summer. While there is no doubt that the likes of Gvardiol and Ake are reliable defenders, they leave a lot to be desired when it comes to the attacking play.
Signing a natural left-back would have added a new dimension to the Manchester City attack. They have failed to bring in a quality left-back this summer, and that will certainly be a disappointment for the fans.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have brought in a quality winger like Savinho, who impressed in La Liga last season. He could prove to be an upgrade on Jack Grealish, who has been hugely underwhelming over the last 12 months.
Manchester City needed more variety in the attack, and the Brazilian should prove to be a quality long-term addition. They have managed to get rid of some of their deadwood on loan and overall, it was a pleasing window for the Premier League champions.
