The Blues are linked with a host of big-name players on this morning’s back pages as the press begin speculating on who will top our transfer wishlist this summer.
Let’s start with a report by Sky Sports News. They claim Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara are City’s primary transfer targets this summer.
They also suggest Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain have been keeping tabs on Crystal Palace’s flying winger Wilfried Zaha.
They write: “Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara head Manchester City’s summer transfer wanted list, Sky Sports News understands.
“City are looking to bring in three key additions to their first-team squad - with reports suggesting Pep Guardiola will have a summer war chest of around £200m to build a squad capable of retaining the Premier League title.
“Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha remains on City’s radar, but is not thought to be one of their primary targets.
“Guardiola is keen to get his business done early due to the World Cup starting on June 14 and a shortened summer transfer window.”
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Meanwhile, the Mirror’s David McDonnell names no fewer than six players City are monitoring.
He says City’s transfer committee are currently casting the net wide in a bid to finalise the squad ahead of next season.
“Guardiola has targeted a centre-back, holding midfielder and versatile forward as the positions he feels need addressing this summer, with City having already identified several targets they are keen to tie up before the World Cup begins in June,” he writes.
“Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred, Napoli’s Jorginho, Nice’s Jean-Michel Seri and Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl - all of whom would cost around £40m - are among Guardiola’s central midfield targets, with Yaya Toure leaving and Fernandinho needing the burden eased on him.
“Guardiola is also keen on Moncao’s £90m-rated forward Thomas Lemar, while City may yet resurrect their £60m bid for Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez, which failed to come off in January.”
The Manchester Evening News have done their player ratings for the season and both David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne scored maximum marks.
On Silva, James Robson writes: “This was quite possibly his best season in a City shirt - and arguably one that saw him eclipse Yaya Toure as the club’s greatest ever player.
“He’s a magician, overshadowed only by De Bruyne’s brilliance alongside him - but still gets top marks. 10.”
And, finally, there’s a fine long-read on the BBC Sport pages dissecting Guardiola.
It’s written by Guillem Balague, a long-term admirer of the boss, and it goes into great detail about the makings of a football genius.
Here’s a short extract to whet the appetite:
“Barcelona and Netherlands legend Cruyff became Guardiola’s great mentor, a man he would meet regularly before and after becoming a manager.
“Once a year, generally when the season was over, they would enjoy a long lunch at the famous El Bulli restaurant on the Costa Brava. It was an excuse to chat, drink wine, eat well and have afternoon sea baths.
“Can you imagine? Cruyff and Guardiola, two of world football’s great innovators, enjoying the creative genius of El Bulli owner Ferran Adria, a great culinary inventor and gastronomic inspiration to so many of the world’s great chefs.
“The principles are the same. It is not just about being the best at playing the game or cooking the best meal, but more about changing the way the game is played and how the food is served and perceived - while having fun in the process.
“Innovation, genius and talent combined with total dedication and unstinting toil and effort comes in many forms, be they sporting or culinary.
“In a way, where else would the likes of Cruyff and Guardiola celebrate the end of a campaign?”
It’s full of fascinating insight and is well worth your time.
That’s all for today, Blues. Stay with us all week, though, as we continue to bring you reaction to our title win – and look forward to this weekend’s game against Swansea.
