5 players Manchester City failed to sign under Pep Guardiola

#1 Jorginho

Jorginho followed Maurizio Sarri in joining Chelsea this summer

The most important position in Guardiola's system is the defensive-midfield area, currently occupied by Fernandinho. With the experienced Brazilian now being 33-years-old, it's clear he cannot play many more years at the highest level - not least given the relentless fixture list every season.

Pep is well aware of this fact and has already started looking for a long-term replacement. In the summer of 2018, Guardiola made clear his intentions to sign Napoli's Jorginho to act as Fernandinho's successor in that role.

Jorginho is an excellent player and has shown he is perfectly capable of playing in the regista role, yet instead of joining Pep's City, he decided to follow his manager from Napoli as Maurizio Sarri was formally announced as Chelsea's new head coach.

In a very short period since, the Italian has quickly become the centre of everything that happens in Sarriball in west London. At the beginning of this season, Guardiola said they thought the Jorginho deal was already complete - showing his frustration after the proposed £60m move collapsed.