As last season's treble winners, Manchester City have maintained a strong competitiveness this season, and although the Champions League exit still has a relatively large impact on the team, they still have a chance to win the league and FA Cup. Pep Guardiola's side have kept the rest of the squad under pressure in all competitions amid frequent injuries this season. With City five games away from their double, they can still have a relatively happy ending to the season as long as they keep winning all of their league games and beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final. However, there are still many problems that need to be solved in Manchester City today.
The triple crown of failed reinforcement in the summer window
The biggest change in Manchester City's squad last summer was the removal of Gundogan, and although the German midfielder may not be particularly impressive in terms of stats and popularity, his role is very obvious, playing a key role in the team's transition between attack and defence. Gundogan's contract expired last year and joined Barcelona as a free agent, Manchester City successively signed Kovacic and Nunes to replace Gundogan's position, but judging from this season's performance, although the two spent more than 80 million euros on Manchester City's transfer fee, the effect did not reach Gundogan's level, which is also the key to the decline of Manchester City's midfield control, and even once there was no suitable player in the midfield to use.
The summer window crisis, the dual core who want to leave the team
Whether it is in terms of statistics or role on the field, Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is still the core of the team's midfield, and has saved the team many times when Manchester City is most dangerous. However, De Bruyne's future has not yet been confirmed, the Belgian midfielder's contract expires next year, the two sides have not made much progress in contract extension talks, and cannot agree on wages, and Manchester City have also expressed concerns about De Bruyne's injury. Kevin De Bruyne wants to get a long-term contract with a high salary in the final days of Manchester City, but Manchester City prefer to give De Bruyne a short-term contract with a salary cut and a higher bonus, which is the key to the two sides not being able to agree.
Bernardo Silva's problems are even more serious, with the Portuguese midfielder's idea of leaving the club never changing, and even if he has given up his quest for the heart of Manchester City's midfield, the attitude of his family has made him more interested in leaving the Premier League and joining La Liga. Last year, Seat B offered to leave the team, but Guardiola personally intervened and persuaded Seat B to complete the contract extension, but added a £50 million liquidated damages clause to the renewal contract. With the current strength of seat B and his age, this liquidated fee will not have too many restrictions on his future, nor will it cause too much pressure on the giants who want to bring him in, and the future of seat B is also a very dangerous signal for Manchester City.
Saudi Arabia shot, the high salary of 100 million yuan is too attractive
Manchester City's two cores will have a big impact on Manchester City if they appear in the transfer market, and Guardiola will also need to rebuild the midfield and abandon the previous championship system, such a decision will not be easy, but it is only a matter of time. According to English media, the Saudi league will once again make an offer for Manchester City in the summer window, De Bruyne and B are in their range of options, especially De Bruyne is the first target of the Saudi league, for which he is even willing to pay a transfer fee of more than 100 million pounds, and open a contract of more than 100 million euros, such an attraction, Manchester City and De Bruyne will make a careful choice.