Grading the summer transfer window: Manchester City

Pep Guardiola endured his first-ever trophyless season during his managerial career at Manchester City. Naturally, the pressure compounded from the top hierarchy as well to deliver success this season in the Premier League as well as Champions League.

As a result, Guardiola embarked on a major shopping spree this summer. While the lack of success in the previous season was one of the key reasons, an ageing squad with an average age of 28.9 years was another point why City needed to get in younger players.

In order to rectify both issues, City signed and moved on quite a few players in the window. Let's have a look at the grades for the Citizens' transfer window.

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Ins

Danilo - Quality depth

Danilo is a two-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid

Manchester City's top priority going into this summer's transfer window was signing full-backs. Thus, Danilo was signed from Real Madrid for £26.5 million by the Citizens.

The Brazilian is a versatile full-back with the ability to play on either flank. Further, the 26-year old won the Champions League twice with Real Madrid and brings in the winning experience from Zinedine Zidane's team, who are arguably the best club side in world football at the moment.

Like every other Brazilian full-back, Danilo is excellent going forward, has a good technique and possesses the engine to maraud on the right or the left flank. Thus, Guardiola finally has a quality backup at the peak of his career who can start games as well unlike the likes of Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna last season.

Grade - 8/10

Bernardo Silva - The present and future

Bernardo Silva is the latest talented attacker to join Manchester City

A key player in AS Monaco's unprecedented success last season, Bernardo Silva was snapped up by Manchester City even before the FA Cup final took place. This highlighted how highly Guardiola rates the 23-year old.

The Portuguese playmaker finished the 2016/17 season with 11 goals and 12 assists across all competitions for the French side last season. Silva's link-up play, ability to play fluid football and end-product meant City did not hesitate in splashing £43 million for him.

The former Benfica midfielder is touted to be the long-term replacement for David Silva, who is approaching the twilight of his career. Furthermore, Silva will get a chance to prove himself given City will be competing on all four fronts this season.

Grade - 8/10

Ederson - The latest sweeper-keeper

Ederson is a talented keeper who is City's no.1 this season

Pep Guardiola's desire to have a sweeper-keeper in his side is well-known. Victor Valdes at Barcelona and Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich were two of the best ever in that role. Thus, on Pep's arrival at City, he loaned out incumbent Joe Hart and brought in Barcelona shot-stopper Claudio Bravo.

However, the transfer turned out to be disastrous as perennial no.2 Willy Caballero played in goal for most of the season. Thus, City were expected to look for another goalkeeper and they went ahead and sign Benfica goalkeeper Ederson for under £35 million.

The Brazilian is one of the best young shot-stoppers in Europe and is good with his feet as well. The 24-year old has been solid if not spectacular so far and only time will tell whether he is the no.1 for City's future.

Grade - 7/10

Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy - Power on the flanks

Kyle Walker is a perfect fit for Guardiola's style of play

In Guardiola's system, the full-backs are extremely important in build-up play. At Barcelona, he had Dani Alves and Eric Abidal, while at Bayern Munich, Philipp Lahm and David Alaba marshalled the flanks. However, at City, Pep inherited players beyond their prime in Sagna, Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov and Pablo Zabaleta.

Thus, the attack was not as fluid as the Spaniard would have liked and he went about rectifying it this summer. Kyle Walker became the world's most expensive defender for a short while as City paid a total £53 million, including add-ons, to get the right-back from Tottenham.

The Englishman has pace, power, and end-product to go along with a willingness to push forward at every opportunity. However, Tottenham's Daniel Levy is a tough negotiator and he ensured the London side get more than a fair deal.

Benjamin Mendy is the world's most expensive defender at the moment

For the opposite flank, AS Monaco pushed City to pay a record sum for Benjamin Mendy in order to obtain the player. Eventually, the Sky Blues paid £52 million, a world-record for any defender. The Frenchman is one of the best crossers of the ball and brings in all the qualities of Walker as well.

Thus, City paid more than £100 million to get two players who were definitely needed. However, it remains to be seen whether the price tags will be justified.

Grade - 8.5/10

Outs

The Strikers

Iheanacho has a buy-back clause in his contract

Kelechi Iheanacho was sold to Leicester City for £25 million as the 20-year old was not assured of game-time. The Nigerian proved to be a prolific goalscorer at the Etihad but has Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus ahead of him. Despite letting him leave, City have inserted a £50 million buy-back clause in recognition of their academy graduate's potential. Thus, this is a wise move from City's perspective.

Grade - 8/10

Enes Unal is one of the brightest Turkish talents.

Enes Unal is another striker City have shipped out this summer but for a different reason. Under the current Home Office regulations, a player has to play in at least 45% of his home nation's games to secure a work permit. Unal did not fulfil that criterion with Turkey and after a brilliant loan spell at Twente last season, where he scored 19 goals in all competitions, the 20-year old joined Villarreal for £12 million. However, just like with Iheanacho, City have included a £17.5 million buy-back clause in Unal's deal. Thus, City can bring back one of Turkey's biggest talents back if he fulfils his potential.

Grade - 7.5/10

Bony moved back to Swansea this summer

Wilfried Bony was a much-wanted striker when he was with Swansea. No wonder, City swooped in to sign the Ivory Coast international in 2015. However, one season later, Bony found himself loaned to Stoke City and this summer, he finally moved back to Swansea for £12 million. Thus, Bony is a player who failed to make an impact at City and rightfully, moved on.

Grade - 7/10

The Surplus

Sancho was snapped up by Borussia Dortmund

Jadon Sancho was the real surprise among the departures as he moved to Borussia Dortmund for £8 million after rejecting a new contract with City. The 17-year old winger was named as the Player of the Tournament in this summer's European U17 Championship and is one of the brightest young English talents. City have definitely lost out on an excellent young player who could have flourished under Guardiola.

Grade - 5/10

Nolito's signing did not work out at City.

Nolito was signed in 2016 and a year later, he was sold to Sevilla for around £8 million. The winger scored 6 goals but failed to provide the necessary impact at the Etihad. The arrival of Bernardo Silva pushed Nolito further down the pecking order and he ended up returning to Spain.

Grade - 6.5/10

Mooy became an instant hit at Huddersfield.

Aaron Mooy was signed on a free transfer from Melbourne City by the Citizens in 2016 and he was loaned to Huddersfield Town. The midfielder was instrumental in securing promotion for the Terriers and they came back for him in the summer. The Australian was sold for around £8 million and it represents a good deal for City as well.

Grade - 7.5/10

Kolarov moved back to Italy

The selling of unwanted players continued at City as they sold Samir Nasri to Antalyaspor, Fernando to Galatasaray, Kolarov to AS Roma, Bruno Zuculini to Hellas Verona, and Ruben Sobrino to Alaves. Thus, City did a good job of reducing the wage bill by allowing players who will not get much playing time to leave.

Grade - 7.5/10

The Free Transfers

Caballero had a good season at the Etihad before joining Chelsea this summer.

The exodus at City was massive as several more players were allowed to leave on a free transfer. Jesus Navas returned back to Sevilla on a free transfer while goalkeeper Caballero moved to Chelsea to become the no.2 at Stamford Bridge.

Gael Clichy moved to Basaksehir to make way for the new full-backs. On the other flank, Zabaleta decided to stay in England as he signed for West Ham on a free transfer. Meanwhile, another right-back Bacary Sagna is still a free agent as he waits to find his new club.

Grade - 7/10

The Loan Bunch

Joe Hart is still unwanted at Manchester City

Manchester City ensured that the players who were unable to secure a move were loaned out as the squad was massively trimmed this summer.

Joe Hart could not secure a transfer and therefore moved on loan to West Ham while defender Jason Denayer joined Galatasaray. City's parent company., the City Football Group, have made La Liga side Girona the sixth club in their portfolio this summer. As a result, five Manchester City players, Pablo Maffeo, Aleix García, Douglas Luiz, Marlos Moreno and Larry Kayode were loaned out to the Spanish club.

Roberts proved to be a hit at Celtic

Patrick Roberts secured another loan deal to Celtic after a successful season. The Scottish side wanted to buy the player but City refused to sell, implying the massive potential of the 20-year old winger.

Apart from these players, keeper Angus Gunn was loaned to Norwich, Anthony Caceres moved to Al-Wasl in the UAE, Nicolas Freire joined PEC Zwolle and Pablo Mari went to NAC Breda.

Grade - 7/10

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Manchester City were very active in the transfer window and brought in top-class players to rectify outstanding problems. However, the addition of another centre-back would have made their window ever better. Meanwhile, they did well in shipping out several players who were surplus or needed game-time to end a largely successful window.

Finally, a failed pursuit of Alexis Sanchez and missing out on signing another centre-half pegs back their overall grade.

Grade - 8.5/10