Manchester City recently kicked off their preseason campaign in Australia with a 2-0 win over Adelaide United and followed up with a 1-0 win over Melbourne City.
As Pellegrini’s men began their journey to be fully prepared for the upcoming season, a certain Raheem Sterling has been added to the squad for a stunning £49 million. The young Englishman will not be the last name to join the Sky Blues before the start of the season as City look to be just getting started.
Pellegrini is understood to be looking out for talent that will bolster his squad, and, despite seeming to have hit a brick wall in his hunt for a central-midfielder, Fabian Delph completed an astonishing u-turn and signed with City. That position had previously been Pellegrini’s top priority after the departure of Frank Lampard.
Aside from that position, the Citizens are also rumoured to be looking at Bundesliga starlet Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, but will have to put in serious work to be able to lure them away from their respective clubs.
With a long way still to go in the transfer window yet, we look at how City could shape up with and without any future signings.
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart looks set to have another steady year between the sticks as he moves into his ninth season as a City player. The other two stoppers in Willy Caballero and Richard Wright will not pose a significant threat to Hart’s position but are more than capable of stepping in, if and when called upon.
Defenders
City’s defence might want to put last season behind it as soon as possible as it performed well below par in the past season. But Pellegrini will be sure to tighten up the defence this time around while also hoping to keep his defenders fit. City have been linked with the aforementioned Rose at left-back as either Aleksandar Kolarov or Gael Clichy look likely to depart. In the centre, skipper Vincent Kompany will be hopeful for an injury-free season after he missed a good part of last season with a muscle injury. Last season’s big money signing, Eliaquim Mangala, will look to turn his fortunes around, after he endured a shaky start to his Premier League career whilst Martin Demichelis will also be competing for a place in the starting XI. Pablo Zabaleta was his consistent self last season and he will look to carry on his form and keep Bacary Sagna on the bench in the process.
Midfielders
The signing of Sterling has added extra flair to City’s midfield, something they were lacking last season. City fans will be more than happy to see Yaya Toure is still a City player after there were many rumours surrounding a potential departure. City have also made it evidently clear they are looking for someone to partner him in the centre of midfield but have been unsuccessful in signing anyone so far and even if they do not, the Brazilian duo of Fernando and Fernandinho will be ready to battle it out for that position. Pellegrini will have a huge array of talent to choose from for the attacking midfield positions, with David Silva, Sterling, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas all competing for those spots. It looks clear that Silva and Sterling will be ahead in the pecking order, leaving Navas and Nasri to fight for that final position in midfield.
Strikers
City’s main man up front will again be Sergio Aguero. The Argentine enjoyed a fantastic season after he managed 26 league goals in an injury-hit season, winning the league’s golden boot award in the process. Even if Aguero succumbs to injury again, City have an automatic replacement in Wilfried Bony. The ex-Swansea man did not manage a lot of minutes in a City jersey but fans wearing sky blue can be assured that they have probably the best back-up striker in the league in the form of the Ivorian. City have already sold Alvaro Negredo to Valencia while they might also lose Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko. City were forced to play James Milner in the most advanced position during last season due to injuries but will be hopeful for better fortunes this time around. One more attacking signing could be on the cards.
Pellegrini will be delighted to have completed the dual signings of Sterling and Delph but will look to strengthen more positions in the coming weeks. City fans have plenty of reason to get their hopes up and even without any more additions to the squad, they still look like serious title contenders.
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I question whether City have really strengthened at all or if they are in for a worse season than last.
Toure is on the wain, as is Nasri. If injury hits Aguero or Kompany again then that have massive gaps in their team even with Bony and Mangala/Demichelis.
Delph is going to be sitting in the “Sinclair/Rodwell” seat.
I also wonder if Sterling will progress enough to warrant his fee.