How Manchester City could line up next season, ahead of a HUGE summer of change with Erling Haaland and Mikel Merino
Manchester City are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland and defensive midfielder Mikel Merino for next season.
Pep Guardiola’s side must keep pace with Liverpool in the Premier League title fight next season, and they will be eager to compete for the Champions League once more.
City are still in competition for all of those titles, but they have missed out on both the League Cup and the FA Cup this season, so they’ll be trying to strengthen on that front, which means new signings.
With Guardiola’s team still without a striker, it has already been claimed that Haaland is top of the priority list.
City’s pursuit of Haaland has advanced significantly, with the club reaching an agreement with the player’s representatives.
According to Sportsmail, a sufficient financial deal has been approved, which would make Haaland the Premier League’s highest-paid player on more than £500,000 per week.
City are now set to activate the 21-year-old striker’s £63 million release clause at Borussia Dortmund, and if all goes well, a five-year agreement could be completed within the next week or two.
City are reportedly prepared to satisfy Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino’s £50 million release clause as they attempt to replace Fernandinho, who has declared that he will leave City in the summer.
The Spaniard has played a significant role in his team’s La Liga campaign, appearing in 27 league games and scoring three goals and assisting four times.
According to El Confidencial, the 25-year-old is Guardiola’s “top target” after impressing the City manager with his performances in Spain.
There will always be outgoings with incomings, and we already know that Fernandinho is departing, but striker Gabriel Jesus is also rumored to be leaving.
According to Marca, Barcelona is considering a move for the Brazilian striker.
Jesus joined City in 2017 and has made 228 appearances for the club, scoring 89 goals and assisting 45 times.
However, given City’s offensive depth, which includes the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, and now maybe Haaland, he may see even less game time, bearing in mind he has only featured six times in 2022.
City are also said to be in negotiations with midfielder Enzo Fernandez in order to establish a youthful Argentine partnership with his teammate Julian Alvarez.
City have been in talks with River Plate for some time now, following the successful transfer of Argentina international forward Julian Alvarez in January, who is presently on loan in Argentina.
But, with all of this in mind, how might Manchester City line up next season?
Sports Diasexamines a possible starting XI.
Goalkeeper: Ederson With his cool, calm, and collected demeanor, the Brazilian shot-stopper has been at City for five seasons and is critical to their success.
Right-back: Kyle Walker The England international is set to start at right-back, where he has been instrumental in City’s success since signing from Premier League rivals Tottenham in 2017.
Centre-back: Aymeric Laporte The Spanish international’s position is arguably dependent on his form, but he appears to be the club’s second-choice center-back after Ruben Dias, though he will have to keep up with the likes of John Stones and Nathan Ake.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias Ruben Dias is a foregone conclusion as a starter; he has been one of the greatest defenders in the Premier League since joining from Benfica in 2020.
Because of his immediate effect, the Portuguese center-back was named to the team of the year as well as Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in his debut season.
Left-back: Joao Cancelo Cancelo, like Dias, has been a standout since his arrival in Manchester, and is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, left-back in the league.
The Portuguese full-back can play on both flanks and was a great acquisition for the club, costing them £60 million from Juventus.
Defensive midfielder: Mikel Merino Merino could join City in the summer, therefore he is expected to get the nod to replace long-serving Fernandinho.
Although the reason for Fernandinho’s departure is that he has lost his spot to the in-form Rodri, the defensive midfield position will be contested by Merino and Rodri.
Merino used to play for Newcastle United, where he spent the 2017-18 season before joining Real Sociedad.
Centre midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne
Of sure, Kevin De Bruyne will start; he is a creative spark who can flip a game on its head.
The Belgium international has struggled with injuries in previous seasons, but he must start when he is well.
Centre midfielder: Bernardo Silva The Portuguese midfielder was extensively linked with a move away from the Etihad last summer, but he has proven his worth and is now a regular in the first-team.
Right forward: Raheem Sterling The England forward was out of favor at the start of the season and appears to be on his way out the door.
Sterling, on the other hand, has pushed himself ahead of Mahrez and Grealish by scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists.
Centre forward: Erling Haaland When trying to bolster their alternatives up front, City missed out on Harry Kane last summer and instead paid £100 million on Jack Grealish, but the England star hasn’t provided the goals required.
With Haaland currently one of the finest goal scorers in the world, it is assumed that they would now pursue a recognised striker rather than another attacking option.
Freescoring Since joining Dortmund from Salzburg in 2020, Haaland has scored 56 league goals in 54 starts.
In 17 appearances for his country, he has also scored 15 goals.
Left forward: Phil Foden This season, the England international has demonstrated that he should be playing on the left flank with Riyad Mahrez and even £100 million signing Jack Grealish.
This season, the 21-year-old has 11 goals and 9 assists in all competitions and is continuing to progress under Guardiola.
City’s star-studded bench
The bench is likely to be packed with stars such as Zack Steffen, John Stones, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish, and Riyad Mahrez, if Gabriel Jesus does not leave the club.
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How Manchester City could line up next season, ahead of a HUGE summer of change with Erling Haaland and Mikel Merino
