A journalist has shared what someone at Manchester City told him at the end of last season about the club’s summer transfer business.
City have so far made two signings this summer, with Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol arriving from Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively.
However, with Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez having left the club and potentially more first-team stars to follow, Paul Hirst of The Times expected the treble-winners to be more active in the market than they have.
Journalist shares what someone at City told him
“It’s surprising how little movement there’s been in terms of incomings,” Hirst said on The Game Football Podcast.
“Speaking to someone at City towards the end of last season, and he was pointing out that after Pep wins things, he always likes to shake things up, shake the squad up, keep things fresh.
“So I was expecting maybe three or four players coming in, but they’ve only signed [Mateo] Kovacic and [Josko] Gvardiol, who are obviously very good players.
MORE MAN CITY STORIES
“I was very impressed by him [Kovacic] and Rodri, really solid at the base of the midfield [against Arsenal in the Community Shield].
“To me, it seems like they are one or two players short in attack at the moment, particularly on the wings. They’ve got six centre-halves and three wingers, and two of those wingers – Bernardo [Silva] and Phil Foden – like to play centrally as well.
“They just seem a bit short up-front at the moment, which is maybe a bit ridiculous when you’ve got Erling Haaland playing for you.
“In terms of depth, they could do with another winger I’d say, unless his plan this season is to play the kids a bit more, like Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and James McAtee.
“I think City could do with at least another player in attack to bolster that squad.”
In recent weeks City have been linked with attackers including Michael Olise, and are now reportedly interested in signing West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.