The number one target for the team this summer would be a central midfielder of elite quality, we cannot afford to miss on that or bring in someone sub par. That stops our worry about Rodri being out long term, via suspension or rotated. It’s our biggest weakest in the team and what would derail any title charge.

The club missed on the transfer of Kalvin Phillips by buying someone to be a squad option. These players below will not be coming for a bench spot.

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Central Midfielder Targets

The club was pushing for a marque midfielder to arrive last summer and this time I do not think they will miss. A player that can thrive at eight, cover for a six and push all of our elite players for places in the midfield. That’s what we are looking for.

Important point to remember heading into this is just how much Rodri has evolved over his time at City. He started very different to the one that is much more box to box now. Here is how our targets stack up against Rodri during this current season.

• Joao Neves is regarded as the next homegrown gem to come out of Benfica, having a fantastic season and pushing himself into the Portugal national team. Mature beyond his years and incredibly tenacious. He understands the tempo and control of the game so well at his age, a wide passing range and the ability to progress the play at the right times.
  
  A deal won’t be cheap with a contract through to 2028 and a release clause of £103m.

• Exequiel Palacios is a versatile midfielder who played at DM, CM and CAM for River Plate, now he is starring for Bayer Leverkusen. Recovering the ball exceptionally well, dominant in ground duels and a great ability at operating box to box. Don’t sleep on his finishing ability either, making late runs into the box and determined to get on the end of balls.

• Bruno Guimaraes is rumored to have a £100m release clause in the summer of 2024. A profile similar to young Gundogan arriving at City, tenacious in ground duels and a great sense of timing to win possession. Very versatile as a central midfielder, can find himself in a double pivot doing defensive duties through to being a creative attacking mid.
  
  Great at finding the first line breaking pass, moving the team into the offensive phase and into space. Pushing the team into the final third consistently. His long passing is a big strength.

• Alan Varela is a promising Argentine defensive midfielder that stands out for his reliability and impressive passing range. Can be playing passes with his defenders and then shift the ball up to the wingers, progressing the team up the pitch.
  
  Winning the ball in the middle, driving forward to lay off a pass to his wingers is something he does very well. Clean and tidy in possession, minimal touches before progressing the play. Sharp and reactive to win balls, retain possession and keep control of the ball in good areas of the pitch.
  
  Varela always wants the ball, takes great care with it and never panics to make a decision. Whether you want to build around him as the lone six or be the defensive player in a double pivot. Varela can do that and be creative in midfield.

Other names include

• Kimmich is a fantastic midfielder able to cover many positions to an elite level. Right back, six and eight. He can do it all, knows it all tactically and would slip into the Pep system very well.
  
  Being 28, coming in for big wages and possibly costs a lot to buy from Bayern would have you wondering if City do that deal. As a profile of player he is perfect but I am not sure a deal will line up for that to happen.

• Lucas Paqueta nearly made the move to the Etihad in the summer, if the betting charges are dropped then you can assume the deal would be back on City’s mind.
  
  Midfielder that can do the defensive job in a double pivot and create like a number ten going forward. Provide key passes all game long with sharp balls in behind. Paqueta would have flourished this season for City but I wonder if come next summer this move has passed the club by.

Future Planning Thoughts

• Perrone is slowly building up minutes and confidence playing in midfield for Las Palmas on loan. Great awareness and nimble touches in tight spaces, while using his body, to move the ball out into space. Effective and penetrating carrying the ball deep into the attacking third. Can pressure well to force interceptions but not overly aggressive, he is careful on his timing.
  
  He could finish the loan season ready to return to City for squad competition or could benefit from a loan move further up the table. Girona on loan would suit him very well in the 24/25 season and have him ready to try start at City the season after.
  

• Wirtz & Musiala are two of the most promising attacking midfielders in the world and both linked frequently to Man City of late. With Foden moving in side, Kevin De Bruyne returning from injury recently and the Euros in Germany this summer. The move seems like it is a year early, something City will look to do in the summer of 2025.

• Nunes is an incredible talent, has only impressed in training but has shown in games his decision making lacking for the standards of this City team. Very high standards and with a lot to learn coming in, we could well see that talent shine through in the long term and into the next season. Something that could shift transfer plans.

We have a lot of talent in midfield but are missing one more elite midfielder being put into the mix. The club missed out on Bellingham, Rice and Paqueta this past summer, this time around they will be determined not to repeat that.

Let us know who you would pick out of those to join City 2024.