After losing the Premier League title to Liverpool and the FA Cup final at the hands of Crystal Palace, Manchester City will be determined to make statement signings in the summer and return to the top.
Rayan Cherki is Manchester City’s priority target and next week, they could launch a bid to sign the Frenchman, who could be the potentially game-changing addition to spark life into their ranks.
Manchester City could sign Tijjani Reijnders soon as well in what is shaping up to be a squad rebuild for the ages.
Pep Guardiola will be delighted to witness that the decision-makers at the Etihad Stadium are as ambitious as he is to lift silverware again.
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Jobe Bellingham joining Borussia Dortmund could help Man City sign Ardon Jashari
Apart from Cherki and Reijnders, another midfielder who is on Manchester City’s radar is Club Brugge wonderkid Ardon Jashari.
Manchester City are in talks to sign Jashari, who could be available for £29 million in the summer.
However, journalist Florian Plettenberg has revealed that the Swiss international is also a Borussia Dortmund target, in case Jobe Bellingham turns down a move to Germany ahead of next season.
But if Bellingham decides to stay at Sunderland after helping them gain promotion to the Premier League, he could unintentionally give Manchester City a huge advantage in Jashari’s pursuit.
While Plettenberg has mentioned that City have been “monitoring” the 22-year-old for months, it seems Manchester United have as well — with Calciomercato reporting their interest in March.
Manchester City are set to overhaul their squad and it would seem unlikely that Jashari would favour United’s project over theirs — considering Ruben Amorim’s side finished 15th in the Premier League and bereft of any trophies — while Pep Guardiola’s men at least secured third place.
How Ardon Jashari could fit in at Man City
If the youngster made a move to the Etihad Stadium in the summer, he will be aware that there will be heated competition for a place in Guardiola’s starting XI.
Being a holding midfielder, the coveted wonderkid would have to contend for a starting place with Rodri.
However, if Manchester City did win the race to sign Jashari if Bellingham follows in his brother’s footsteps by signing for Borussia Dortmund, he could play in a double pivot alongside the Spaniard.
Minutes may be hard to come by for the former Luzern wonderkid, as Pep Guardiola loves Reijnders and believes he would be the perfect number eight in his system.
But considering Jashari was recognised as the Player of the Season in the Jupiler League, he has every reason to back himself to be given plenty of opportunities if he moved to Manchester City.
