With Hugo Viana set to start working alongside sporting director Txiki Begiristain early next year, Manchester City could already one eye perched on the summer transfer window.
It was claimed on Wednesday that Viana has earmarked Viktor Gyokeres as Erling Haaland’s replacement if the latter signs for Real Madrid one day.
Txiki Begiristain has laid out his transfer blueprint for Hugo Viana at Manchester City; signing two players for every position and ensuring there is an age gap between the pair so that there is an internal succession plan at the club.
Ruben Amorim had his say on Viana joining Manchester City by revealing that he “wants to win more than anyone” at the Etihad Stadium.
From early next year and beyond, the 41-year-old would be keen to make a strong impression on the Manchester City supporters.
City fans are accustomed to Txiki Begiristain’s brilliance in the transfer market and they will be expecting the same standard to be maintained by Hugo Viana from day one.
- Who is Hugo Viana? Get familiar with the favourite to replace Txiki Begiristain as Man City Director of Football
CEO confirms Man City target Georgiy Sudakov will leave Shakhtar
The former Newcastle United midfielder will have to instantly identify the areas of Pep Guardiola’s he feels can be upgraded.
As per Transfermarkt, the average age of this City squad is 26.9 — the fourth oldest in the Premier League after West Ham United (28), Everton (27.9) and Fulham (27.6).
Over a week ago, iNews reported that Manchester City are “keeping tabs” on 22-year-old attacking midfielder Georgiy Sudakov — who has also attracted interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. In an interview with CBS Sports, Shakhtar Donestk CEO Serhii Palkin has confirmed that the Ukrainian international will leave the club to sign for a top team in Europe.
“We have [Georgiy] Sudakov, a key player of our squad and we believe definitely that he will move to a top club in Europe.”
“It’s difficult to say about price now. The market dictates the price. We’re waiting for the Euros, he’s a key player for the national team. After this competition we’ll have a lot of offers.”
The report further states that the Shakhtar Donestk technician has previously been valued by Palkin at an asking price of over €50 million (£41.5 million).
This season, Sudakov has seven goals and two assists to his name in nine games across all competitions.
Previously, Manchester City have signed Fernandinho and Elano from Shakhtar while also loaning Nery Castillo for a season.
Sudakov told Mykhailo Mudryk he dreams of Chelsea move
If City seriously wish to sign Sudakov, the concern for them is that he publicly admitted to have spoken to Mykhailo Mudryk over playing alongside him for Chelsea.
Speaking to iNews in May, the in-form talent revealed: “I was telling Misha [Mudryk] about how much I want to play in the Premier League and how it would be great to play in the same team.”
“Misha told me that I was not ready for the kind of pressure that happens in England and if I do come, I need to be ready for that. But I am.”
Considering Sudakov and Mudryk already play in tandem for Ukraine and were also teammates at Shakhtar, they seem to be very pally with each other.
Whether that hands Chelsea a potential boost in signing the productive number 10 will be interesting to see.
If Manchester City amp up their reported interest in Sudakov, they might have to pitch to him why they remain a superior destination for any budding young player to elevate their career than at Stamford Bridge.
