Manchester City need to rebuild their squad after an underwhelming campaign by their lofty standards.
There are a few glaring weaknesses that need to be addressed if Manchester City are to reclaim domestic and European supremacy under Enzo Maresca. A natural right-back, a defensive midfielder capable of sharing the workload with Rodri, and an explosive winger should be among the club’s priorities before the transfer window closes. Here are three players City should pursue this summer.
Malo Gusto
Manchester City have often relied on makeshift solutions at right-back in recent seasons. While Matheus Nunes filled the role admirably whenever required, he is naturally a central midfielder and his long-term future should lie in the middle of the park rather than in defence. Signing a specialist right-back would strengthen two positions simultaneously by allowing Nunes to return to his preferred role. Chelsea defender Malo Gusto could be the ideal solution.
The Frenchman has developed into one of the Premier League’s most complete attacking full-backs. Blessed with exceptional recovery pace, outstanding athleticism and impressive technical ability, Gusto is equally effective going forward and defensively.
Last season, he ranked among Chelsea’s most progressive ball carriers from defence, consistently creating chances through cutbacks and overlapping runs. His crossing quality and ability to combine in tight spaces make him particularly effective against low-block defences, something Manchester City regularly encounters.
Defensively, Gusto is aggressive in one-versus-one situations and possesses the pace required to recover during defensive transitions. His mobility would allow Manchester City to maintain a high defensive line without sacrificing security whenever possession is lost. Tactically, he would be a perfect fit under Maresca.
The Italian manager prefers full-backs capable of operating both as traditional wide defenders and as inverted options during possession. Gusto has already shown his comfort in both roles, stepping into midfield when required while also providing natural width whenever the winger moves inside. The Frenchman’s arrival would also solve another important issue.
Rather than continuing to deploy Matheus Nunes out of position, Manchester City could restore the Portuguese international to central midfield, adding another technically gifted player to their engine room while significantly strengthening the right-back position.
Elliot Anderson
Rodri remains arguably the most important player in Manchester City’s squad. The problem is that he is virtually irreplaceable. The Spanish international has struggled with fitness concerns over the past year, and Manchester City cannot afford to overload him throughout another demanding campaign involving multiple competitions.
That makes signing another high-quality defensive midfielder a necessity rather than a luxury. Elliot Anderson has developed into one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders at Nottingham Forest and possesses many of the qualities required to thrive at the Etihad.
Although naturally capable of playing in several midfield roles, Anderson excels when operating deeper. His work rate, positional discipline and ball-winning ability allow him to shield the defence effectively, while his composure in possession ensures attacks begin cleanly from the base of midfield.
The Englishman consistently ranks highly among Premier League midfielders for ball recoveries, tackles, and successful duels, while also contributing progressively with his passing and ball-carrying. Rather than simply breaking up play, Anderson quickly turns defensive actions into attacking opportunities. His arrival would immediately reduce the physical burden on Rodri.
Instead of depending almost exclusively on the Spaniard every three days, Maresca could rotate both players intelligently without suffering a significant drop in quality. Rodri would remain fresher for decisive fixtures, while Anderson would provide genuine competition for places. The tactical benefits extend beyond midfield.
With a reliable holding midfielder protecting the back four, Manchester City’s attacking players would receive greater freedom to operate higher up the pitch. Creative midfielders could take more risks knowing there is adequate defensive cover behind them, while the full-backs would also enjoy greater licence to join attacks.
At just 23 years of age, Anderson also fits City’s long-term recruitment model, combining Premier League experience with significant room for further development. This looks like a deal that may happen as per recent reports.
Bradley Barcola
Manchester City’s attack could require fresh inspiration on the flanks this summer. With Savinho expected to leave, Maresca may need another winger capable of stretching defences and creating moments of individual brilliance. Bradley Barcola would be an outstanding addition.
Despite competing for minutes in an incredibly talented Paris Saint-Germain squad, the French international has consistently demonstrated why he is regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young attackers. His combination of pace, close control, and intelligent movement makes him a constant threat in transition and against deep defensive blocks.
Barcola is an elite ball carrier who thrives in one-versus-one situations. He attacks defenders directly, changes direction effortlessly and possesses the acceleration needed to create separation in tight spaces. That unpredictability is something Manchester City occasionally lacked last season.
Opponents often defended deep and compact against them, forcing City to rely heavily on intricate passing combinations. Barcola would provide an alternative route to the goal by beating defenders individually and forcing defensive structures to collapse. The Frenchman is also an intelligent off-ball runner.
Rather than remaining static on the touchline, Barcola constantly attacks the space behind defenders, creating passing lanes for midfielders while opening central areas for teammates. His movement would complement City’s possession-heavy approach perfectly. Perhaps most importantly, he needs regular football.
At Paris Saint-Germain, consistent starts have been difficult to secure due to intense competition for attacking positions. Manchester City could offer him a more prominent role within one of Europe’s elite sides, giving him the platform to fulfil his enormous potential.
For a club seeking greater pace, creativity and unpredictability in wide areas, few players on the market are better suited than Barcola. However, the Citizens face stiff competition for his signature, as widespread reports have linked the PSG winger with Arsenal and Liverpool.
