Manchester City have been the main focus of the summer transfer window ahead of the 2021-22 Premier League season.
The Sky Blues have made an official £100m bid for Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish while there have also been reports of another £100m bid for Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane.
The English no.9 has also added fuel to the fire by failing to report for Tottenham’s pre-season training on Monday which has been widely perceived as a power move by the striker to force through a transfer.
With both deals very much possible, especially in light of City’s success last season and their selling spree this window, today we will look at how Pep might look to accommodate the two superstars in his 4-3-3 formation.
There will be a number of tough calls with the players missing out capable of being first-team starters in most clubs across Europe. But with City’s embarrassment of riches, this is a headache Pep will know he will have throughout the season.
Predicted Man City Lineup With Grealish and Kane (4-3-3)
Defence
Ederson will remain the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Zack Steffen.
Kyle Walker is likely to retain his spot in the Man City lineup. He had a hugely successful last season with a terrific showing in the Euros as well.
The centre-back partnership of John Stones and Ruben Dias will remain unchanged, at least for the start of the season. Aymeric Laporte will be pushing for a place in the Man City lineup though.
Aleks Zinchenko and the versatile Joao Cancelo are options at left-back While Benjamin Mendy will also look to impress the manager. While Zinchenko was solid when called upon last season, Cancelo’s flair could see him get a run in the first-team.
MIDFIELD
We expect Rodri to be given an extended run of games in the centre of midfield this season. Fernandinho has extended his contract and is likely to be a backup option.
Ilkay Gundogan will also be utilised in a similar role this season, especially against teams who don’t counter-attack as much.
Kevin de Bruyne will start on the right of a midfield three in this Man City lineup while the third spot could be taken up by Gundogan or in a more attacking set-up, Phil Foden.
Bernardo Silva has been linked with a move and if City do end up buying the English superstar duo, this is a transfer that looks most likely to happen.
ATTACK
Some big names will be missing out here while some equally big names will get a slot.
Jack Grealish’s best position is on the left-wing and he is likely to feature there in the Man City lineup.
In the event of such an occurrence, Raheem Sterling will have to shift to the right-hand side of the attack where he will have to compete with the mercurial Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian has been in fine form in pre-season and with Raheem Sterling yet to report back to training, Mahrez will start the season on the right.
Ferran Torres is also likely to miss out in the event the two signings go through.
That leaves us with Gabriel Jesus and our second potential blockbuster signing in Harry Kane. Despite all of Jesus’s positive aspects, there is only one winner in this.
Harry Kane will lead the Man City lineup and try to emulate Sergio Aguero’s success at the club.
