Manchester City is in one of the most challenging seasons since Pep Guardiola's arrival in 2016. After years of dominance in England and Europe, the team is going through a results crisis that has set off all the alarms. In the Premier League, the 'citizen' team is in fourth place and far from the lead, something unthinkable in any other season.
With the title options in the league greatly reduced and performance below expectations in the Champions League, the club has decided that this summer will be the time for change. Guardiola has already communicated to the board that a renewal is necessary to regain competitiveness, which will mean both the departure of key players and the arrival of new signings.
The Sacred Cows That Will Leave This Summer
To carry out this revolution, City will have to part with some of the most important players of recent years. Names like Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gündogan, or Jack Grealish could leave the club. Pep Guardiola believes that some of them have completed their cycle in the team, while others have lowered their performance or have significant offers from other leagues.
With the departure of these players, City will need to strengthen with top-level talent to return to the top. The transfer market promises to be intense for Guardiola's team, which will be obliged to make high-caliber additions to compensate for the losses.
Guardiola Seeks Replacements and Eyes a Barça Target
Among the list of reinforcements Guardiola is considering, one of the most favored names is Florian Wirtz. According to 'El Nacional.cat', the Catalan coach has identified the young Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder as one of his priorities for the market. Wirtz, whose contract ends in 2027, is considered one of the most promising players in Europe.
Manchester City is willing to go all out for his signing and could offer up to 100 million euros to convince Bayer Leverkusen. With the departure of creative players like Kevin De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva, Guardiola sees Wirtz as the ideal replacement to provide quality, vision, and imbalance.
Barça Is alert to His Situation
Barça, although Wirtz is not an absolute priority, is also very alert to his situation. The blaugrana club is aware that the player has stated several times that his dream is to wear Barça's jersey.
Wirtz is a player with exceptional talent and would fit perfectly into Barça's play style. Although the competition with City and other clubs is formidable, the club doesn't rule out entering the bidding if the right conditions arise. The battle for one of Europe's most promising young players has begun and both Pep Guardiola and Barça will be in the tough fight for his signing.