Three More Deals Manchester City Could Complete This Summer
New Premier League season has surfaced already and the transfer deadline is less than two weeks away. Most of the outfits have concluded major deals, while a few, however, are still struggling to grab their prime transfer targets.
Manchester City, who finished third last season under Pep Guardiola, have been the highest spenders in the league this summer as they invested heavily to strengthen their back-line – City have brought in full-backs Danilo, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, and also the young Brazilian custodian Ederson from Portuguese champions Benfica. Guardiola, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, has further snapped up a deal for former Monaco star Bernardo Silva and seems keen to add one centre-back before the deadline day.
Eliaquim Mangala, the Frenchman, might be handed another opportunity to resurrect his Manchester City career if they fail to find any centre-back before the deadline. The Citizens, however, are not done yet and a few deals are tipped to be concluded on the transfer deadline day (or close to the deadline).
Jonny Evans
They have been looking for an experienced Premier League star and identified former Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans, who is currently enjoying his football with West Bromwich Albion under Tony Pulis. Pulis, known as a notorious negotiator, has already rejected a £18m bid for the 29-year old but has left the door open for further negotiation. He said,
“It would be crazy to say West Brom won’t sell if a huge amount of money is put in front of you. It’d need to be a good offer. We’re not desperate for money. Jonny’s one of our best and we’d love him to stay.”
Pulis has decided to play hardball and the discussion might drag closer to 31st August to have its conclusion.
Eliaquim Mangala
The Frenchman’s fate is clinging on the Jonny Evans deal and if the Citizens manage to strike a fee for the 29-year old Premier League veteran, Mangala will be surplus to requirements and will find himself further down the pecking order behind Vincent Kompany, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, and Evans, who was a part of rivals Manchester United’s Premier League winning side during 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2012-13 campaigns. Chances are high that Mangala will struggle to make it to the City playing XI and a lot could hinge on the club’s transfer activity in the coming weeks.
Fabian Delph
Delph, the English midfielder, has been a fringe player for the past two seasons, in a star-studded Manchester City roster since completing a controversial switch from Aston Villa a couple of years back. City boss Guardiola has expressed his willingness to listen to offers for the 27-year old midfield general. Delph is measuring his options amidst reports of his reluctance to join Stoke City who showed genuine eagerness to bring him in and hand him an opportunity to claim his stake in next year’s FIFA World Cup competition. An egress can be anticipated, but it will take time and might be completed by the transfer deadline.