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Manchester City have made headlines all over the world after their UEFA Champions League ban was overturned on Monday morning. The Cityzens were hit with a two-year ban from Europe's most prestigious competition and a €30m fine after breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
However, it was revoked, and the fine was reduced to a figure of €10m, clearing City to compete in the 2020/21 UCL.
The potential ban led to immense speculation regarding the futures of a number of their players. The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, and Rodri reportedly weighed up moves away from the Etihad. Naturally, it also impacted their transfer planning, given that a lot of transfers could be affected by their absence from the Champions League.
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With their participation in the UCL no longer in doubt, here, we take a look at players they should target ahead of the 2020/21 season.
#5 Mikel Oyarzabal | Real Sociedad | Winger
One of the most exciting Spanish attackers plying their trade in LaLiga, Mikel Oyarzabal could be a superb acquisition for Pep Guardiola. The Real Sociedad winger is an excellent reader of the game and can function as a playmaker in wider areas.
Manchester City would, however, be potentially recruiting a player who is vastly different from the recently-departed Leroy Sane. The German is one of the quickest footballers in Europe and has outpaced most players he's had to face.
The Spaniard, on the other hand, is an expert in picking the right pass in the final third and could provide Guardiola with a different profile in attack. Oyarzabal's decision-making is commendable for his age and, to go with this, he's a sharp finisher. The Real Sociedad man racked up ten goals and ten assists in LaLiga Santander this year.
His interplay and ability to pick apart a defence with passes could bode well with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and the rest of City's midfield wizards. It must be said, however, that he's still a raw talent and could use some refining. Guardiola has a reputation for doing so, which could be an interesting factor to consider.
#4 David Alaba | Bayern Munich | Centre-back/Left-back
Bayern Munich's utility man David Alaba has been linked with a move to Manchester City for some time now. The Austrian international has been with the Bavarians for over a decade and could be on the lookout for a new challenge.
City under Guardiola have displayed great versatility on the pitch, with players being tasked with playing different roles and positions. Alaba could fit in right into the mix and brings experience in this regard. He has played in both left and central defence in his career at Bayern, and has even turned up in midfield.
He's played as a deep-lying midfielder in no less than 40 games in his career, and has spoken of his desire to play in the middle as well. With Fernandinho both ageing and being needed in defence, Alaba could provide cover for Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan. Their issues at centre-back have been evident, and Alaba could help Aymeric Laporte in that area of the pitch.
The Cityzens have also had troubles at left-back which could be seamlessly solved with Alaba's arrival. Although he's played in the heart of Bayern Munich's defence this year, the 27-year-old has more experience playing as a full-back. His expertise as a left-back could benefit them greatly.
Should De Bruyne be unavailable, Alaba could also take over set-pieces. Overall, Alaba definitely should be high up on Guardiola's wishlist heading into the summer.
#3 Ferran Torres | Valencia | Winger/Wide midfielder
Another one of Spain's most anticipated talents, Ferran Torres is the crown jewel of Valencia's famed academy. The 20-year-old stole the spotlight from Carlos Soler as the best young Los Che talent with his sublime ability on the pitch.
Torres, predominantly operating as a right-sided midfielder, has shown a combination of exceptional abilities. One of the things that separate the 20-year-old Spaniard from his peers is his absolutely phenomenal ability to create chances from wide areas.
His numbers (six goals and six assists in all competitions) aren't as flashy as some of the others simply because of the role he plays. Under Albert Celades, he played as a right midfielder in a 4-4-2 in which Torres hugged the byline and drifted infield from time to time. Due to this, he didn't find himself in attacking positions for too long.
Torres could fit in well amongst City's stellar group of talented individuals. He could improve to become devastatingly good footballer given his high ceiling. Los Che's crown jewel could help provide a real cutting edge in the final third with lesser defensive responsibilities. City face Juventus, Liverpool, and a host of clubs vying for his signature.
#2 Ben Chilwell | Leicester City | Left-back/left wing-back
Manchester City have reportedly commenced a bidding war with London giants Chelsea for the services of Ben Chilwell. The English international made headlines in the past with several clubs attempting to sign him even before he became a first-team regular.
However, Leicester City held on to their prized asset and are now bearing the fruit of their faith and trust in him. Chilwell has had an impressive campaign on the left-hand side of the Foxes' defence. He played a crucial role in Leicester's flying start to the campaign, and they have struggled remarkably during his absence.
Benjamin Mendy's troubles at left-back have often left City handicapped in defence. The Frenchman has missed over 80 games of football since his move to Manchester from Monaco. His unavailability has led to City looking at other options.
Chilwell has most traits that are looked for in modern full-backs. He's relatively quick on and off the ball with superb athleticism to dominate the left-flank for 90 minutes. To add to this, Chilwell is proficient at crossing and could be relied upon to find his teammates from wide areas. The 23-year-old registered three goals and three assists in the league.
There is room for improvement, perhaps, in his overall defensive play as Chilwell has been caught out a fair few times this season. That being said, he certainly has the tools to maraud City's left-flank for years to come.
#1 Kalidou Koulibaly | Napoli | Centre-back
The Cityzens' astonishing expenditure on defensive signings has been well-documented, and is already beyond an outlay of £300m. However, there is no player that Manchester City need more than Napoli's towering leader in defence, Kalidou Koulibaly, ahead of the 2020/21 season.
The Senegalese has proved himself as one of the most dominant defenders in the world with his bright displays in the UCL and Serie A. City's rivals Manchester United were famously keen on taking him to Old Trafford, but the fee was deemed too high. They signed Harry Maguire, incidentally a priority target for City last summer, for a world-record fee.
Koulibaly's intelligence and anticipation on the pitch helps him be in the right place at the right time to shut out a building attack. He's a calm presence on the ball, and there could not have been a more suitable player to partner Laporte. The 29-year-old's leadership qualities could have a significant impact on the City defence, given the lack of it in their squad since Vincent Kompany left.
City's other options all pale in comparison to the majestic Napoli man, including the likes of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi. A Laporte-Koulibaly base at the heart of the Cityzens' defence could be a terrifying proposition for their league rivals.
Centre-back has mostly remained an area of concern for Pep Guardiola, and purchasing Koulibaly would radically shift the landscape of his backline.
