After losing the English Premier League title to Chelsea in the 2014-15 season, we have a look at the areas Manchester City could look to improve coming into next season.
The left-back spot
Gael Clichy and Aleksander Kolarov have shared the full-back spot for four years at the Etihad, Kolarov arriving in 2010 from Lazio and Clichy a year later from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Clichy was selected for when they needed to be wary of their opponents’ pace in attack through the wings, and they could be on the back foot for periods of the game, like Chelsea and Everton.
Kolarov was chosen for games where City were allowed to be more free and adventurous, and where they can flourish in attack, like against QPR.
However, Clichy’s form of this late season was poor as his amount of defensive errors led countryman Eliaquiam Mangala into a baptism of fire at Manchester City. Kolarov took over at the left-back spot and performed well, but the Serbian is hot property in Italy, as both Milan clubs are in for the Serbian defender.
The transfer gossip column has linked Manuel Pellegrini to a host of full-back replacements.
Fenerbahçe’s Caner Erkin has been linked to a move with the Sky Blues recently. The 26-year-old was a part of the club’s second place finish in the Turkish Super Lig, missing out on the top spot by only three points. He grabbed eight assists, and he has similar attributes to Kolarov
Layvin Kurzawa has also been linked with City. The 22-year-old Frenchman is into his second year at AS Monaco. In two years he scored five goals and got seven assists. He is more of a player like Clichy, covering his centre-half and tracking the runs of wingers superbly.
The centre-half spot
Martin Demichelis’ powers are on the wane, making more defensive errors for City than any other defender, while club captain Vincent Kompany was sidelined for up to 10 games last season due to a leg muscle injury.
Mangala’s spot is not confirmed, and after the entire defensive line’s performance, I don’t think anyone’s spot is guaranteed. It would be a better idea to offload the 34-year-old Demichelis in order to bring in a better, younger, more suitable back-up centre-half.
A more disciplined centre-half can be used, while Kompany and Demichelis racked up the most yellow cards, six and seven respectively, throughout the season.
Matija Nastasic could be the replacement for the bench after returning from his loan at Schalke in the Bundesliga, after making 16 appearances for the German side.
If City are looking to purchase a back-up centre-half then Jose Fonte is the way to go. The Southampton defender was among the best defenders last season, making on average 5.5 clearances a game and 2.1 superior tackles.
The captain of Southampton may prove hard to secure but rumours have been abound that the 31-year-old is interested in the deal.
Central midfield
After James Milner’s departure, Yaya Toure’s under-par season, Fernandinho’s difficult second season and Fernando’s difficult first campaign, it leaves Pellegrini in need of at least one midfielder to hold control of the middle of the park.
Given the promise of high quality replacements, it comes as no surprise that City are looking to the might of one of the best young talents in the world.
Kevin De Bruyne absolutely tore apart the Bundesliga, finishing in second place with VfL Wolfsburg and scoring 10 goals and leading the assists board with an amazing 21.
Earlier this month the chairman of Wolfsburg stated, “We want to confirm our success this season in the future and, for that, we are keeping this team together.”
Manchester City has reportedly offered them a sum of 20 million pounds and a swap deal with Samir Nasri.
De Bruyne’s has the ability to play in different areas of the pitch, like either wing position and mostly at the No. 10 spot. This will give Pellegrini some more options with his versatility should he join.
Back-up centre-forwards
Arguably the best forward in the Premier League last season, scoring 26 goals and earning the golden boot, Sergio Aguero amazes us with spectacular arrays of individual brilliance.
But 11 matches throughout the season, City’s front man was unavailable due to a calf injury. One can only imagine what he could have done in those games. He would have definitely reached 30 goals, and could have turned their 3-2 losses against Aston Villa and Liverpool into three points.
There was a period of the season before January, where Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were out with injury, and James Milner was thrown in as a makeshift centre forward for five games, only gaining one goal and an assist.
Pellegrini attempted to fix this problem by purchasing Wilfried Bony from Swansea City for almost 33 million euros, who scored only one goal in 296 minutes of football.
Jovetic and Dzeko were featured minimally this year, both contributing nine goals in a combined time of 1716 minutes on the pitch. Between them, that is one goal every two matches.
Jovetic has shown he wants out of Manchester, and there is speculation that AS Roma are showing interest in the 25-year-old Montenegro international. Also Edin Dzeko has been linked with Borussia Dortmund, who are willing to swap new recruit Adrian Ramos.
Ramos is a fast and agile player, with many attributes like Aguero, but he will be turning 30 in a few months and this deal may not look as good as it seems.
Pellegrini must fight for the title and gain silverware next season, otherwise, he may be shown the door at the Etihad.
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