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3 players, that need to step up and impress in pre-season for Man City – Agree?

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The Manchester City starting 11 could look slightly different next season if these three players hit the mark in pre-season.

Manchester City was all but a Champions League away from a clean sweep of trophies last season. However, winning the Champions League is no small feat, and Man City have a lot of adjustments to make to ensure domestic and European success.

Despite having the strongest squad in English football, the individuals within the team have a lot more to show for themselves.

Guardiola’s tactical prowess has resulted in an abundance of success for him at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. However, his man management skills will truly be tested in the upcoming season.

For those who don’t support Man City, their capabilities of winning every competition they are a part of is a scary thought. Here are three players that could make your nightmares a reality if they step up to the plate next season…

Oleksandr Zinchenko

In the 18/19 campaign, Zinchenko featured in 29 games across all competitions. The 22-year-old Ukranian has begun to gain trust from the manager and even provided 5 assists from the left-back position. Should the more established Benjamin Mendy have a season of full fitness, the left-back spot could see some fantastic competition. According to the Evening Standard, Man City are confident that Mendy can maintain his fitness throughout next season.

Gabriel Jesus

With Sergio Aguero turning 32 in the upcoming season. The 22-year-old Brazilian has stepped up his game and started emulating the figures his fellow South American reaches on a season by season basis. Although 21 goals and 6 assists in 47 appearances last season is a fantastic achievement, he is capable of much more. The striker has 16 goals in 29 games for his national side.

Leroy Sane

According to reports, Sane is keen on joining Bayern Munich. However, the 23-year-old German winger could offer buckets of quality and pace to the Manchester City side, if he can just break through to the starting 11. Guardiola must have his reasons for the lack of game time given to one of the world’s hottest prospects. But if this hurdle can be overcome, we could see a brand new Leroy Sane in the sky blue strip next season.

Man City’s loan, buy & sell list this transfer window – Agree?

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What would be the perfect summer transfer window for the Champions of England Manchester City. The Football Manc Cave takes a look.

It is arguable that the Manchester City squad is close to perfection in the vision of the esteemed manager Pep Guardiola. After a sweep of domestic success last season, Manchester City is only a Champions League away from being considered one of the world’s greatest football teams in modern football.

Today, The Football Manc Cave will provide options for a ‘loan’, a ‘buy’ and a ‘sell’. For what can improve the Man City squad next season and see them lift the mouth-watering Champions League trophy.

Loan

Manchester City has a squad full of talent, experience and quality. This can prevent the development of the youth within Guardiola’s ranks. Talks of Phillippe Sandler being loaned to Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht are currently in progress, which is a smart move for the blues.

Other players such as Zinchenko and Claudio Gomes should be loaned out to lower-table Premier League or Championship level teams. Who can provide them with a full season of English football. Making them better, stronger and more equipped to handle the pressures of the competition upon their return.

Sell

It’s hard to tell a team of champions that some of their players don’t cut the bill. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean the individuals don’t have the talent to perform at the top level. Leroy Sane, for example, is a fantastic young winger who could potentially clinch a spot in any team in world football. However, he has spent most of his time on the bench under Guardiola, and the 23-year-old is at an important point in his career where he needs first team football.

Buy

Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala are two centre-backs that have gone unnoticed in the Man City squad, due to falling behind Laporte and Stones in the rankings, and both should be sold. John Stones’ dubious performances for England in the Nations League could demonstrate a lack of confidence in important matches. Bringing in a top quality centre-back to push his performances could be key to his development next season, as he currently faces little to no competitions for his centre-back spot.

With the status of Manchester City, they should rightfully be joining the races for the world’s greatest defenders such as Van Dijk for Liverpool, De Ligt rumoured for Juventus, Maguire rumoured for Manchester United. Guardiola should be looking for the likes of Manolas, Skriniar, Sergio Ramos, Koulibaly etc.

Man City need to look at these 2 Sane replacements should he move

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Leroy Sane is a quality, young talent who feels as though he deserves more play time at the Etihad, and is, therefore, seeking a move away. But who can Man City replace him within this transfer window?

Sane finished his 18/19 season with 16 goals and 18 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions. He made the majority of marks on games by coming off the bench.

However, Sane doesn’t want to be associated with the ‘super-sub’ status. Despite having a great effect when bringing on his blistering pace against a tired defence towards the end of games.

Bayern Munich is in the race for Leroy Sane, Man City have set their price 100m. Should they obtain his services, they would end their pursuit for young Chelsea man Callum Hudson-Odoi, according to Mirror.

With 100m in the bank. The Citizens could be looking at at least one of the two players below…

Jadon Sancho

Close your ears, Man United fans. Should Sane bring in a £100million budget increase, Manchester City wouldn’t tip-toe around a big money signing the way Manchester United do. As proven by how the blues simply paid the £62million release clause for Rodri from Atletico Madrid.

Sancho is undoubtedly one of the greatest prospects in world football. With Manchester City’s phenomenal business structure, there is no doubt that Sancho is on their radar. This would generate further competition for Sterling and Bernardo Silva, driving Manchester City to have the best wingers in English football, or potentially world football.

Douglas Costa

Costa, the 28-year-old Brazilian winger for Juventus, is a fantastically pacey and dangerous winger. He has been shunned since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and has suffered a massive decrease in playing time. Should he replace Leroy Sane as an ‘off-the-bench’ winger at a potentially increased wage, it would make sense for the Brazilian to have little qualms about the deal.

Man City promising youths looking to hook up with former teammate

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Man City youth star Philippe Sandler is looking to join his former teammate Vincent Kompany at his new club Anderlecht.

Vincent Kompany left Manchester City as a champion of England this summer. The Football Manc Cave now understand that the Dutchman’s influence at Anderlecht, as lead to conversations of a loan deal with one of the blue’s promising youth.

Philippe Sandler is a Dutch centre-back, much like Kompany. Who is yet to break through at Man City after joining from PEC Zwolle for around £2million in summer 2018.

By spending a year alongside his former teammate and the new player-manager at Anderlecht. Kompany can pass on his buckets of knowledge and experience to the 22-year-old. Making him ready to challenge for Kompany’s vacant centre-back role upon his return.

Future planning

Over recent years, since the influence of the Middle-Eastern billionaires, Manchester City has carefully allocated their staff and budget which has helped them build the foundations of a world-conquering squad.

Making moves such as sending their youth on loan to work alongside old teammates is the type of intricate planning for the future which demonstrates the professionalism and positive projections of the club. Manchester United’s Ed Woodward should be taking notes.

Man City will be desperate to emulate the services provided by Kompany during his eleven-year spell with the club. The 33-year-old defender lived through the transitional period of the Manchester club, and will fully understand the culture and demands of being a part of it. Meaning we could see Sandler return to the side as a fully fledged defender ready to prove himself in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old Sandler currently has 76 career appearances under his belt, but we could see that figure soar beyond 100 after a season in the Netherlands. Upon his return, we could see him slowly integrated into the first team squad as we have seen with the likes of Phil Foden and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

This is Man City’s best Premier League 5 a-side team – Agree?

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The current champions Man City, have had a vast quality of players over recent years, and the Football Manc Cave have narrowed it down to this 5 aside team.

Since the astronomical financial takeover in 2008, Manchester City has carefully allocated their abundance of cash over the last ten years. Their dusty old trophy cabinet has begun to see some serious action over recent seasons.

Should Manchester City win the Premier League title for the fifth time in the 19/20 campaign, they will match their neighbour’s record. As Manchester United are currently the only side to have won the Premier League three times in a row.

Despite many Manchester City fans still having a lot of love for their old-school squads. It is fair to say that the quality players that they have ever seen in the sky blue strip, have been recent acquisitions since their trillionaire owner stepped in.

Well over twenty players over the past ten years for Manchester City could have likely stepped into any other club at the time. Except for the elites-only 5 aside Man City team, you can see below…

Goalkeeper

In a 5 aside squad, having a ball playing goalkeeper is essential, and Ederson’s distribution abilities could provide arguments to play the Brazilian in midfield. However, his stop stopping abilities and reflexes make him one of the best goalkeepers in modern football.

Defenders

Vincent Kompany is potentially the greatest servant the club has ever had, he grew with the club and has won several trophies with them. His determination to stop the ball from going anywhere near the net makes him a goalkeeper’s best friend. And let’s not forget that goal against Leicester City last season.

Midfielders

Yaya Toure was the midfield beast that will go down as an all-time fan favourite at Man City, His stature and vision provide both defensive and attacking qualities which are still irreplaceable.

David Silva is going into his tenth season with the club, his precision and vision are potentially second to none in world football. His ability to pick out passes, and knowing exactly where his teammates are heading have been crucial to the slick and professional manner in which City play attacking football.

Attacker

Aguero needs no introduction or conclusion. He is possibly one of the greatest strikers English football has ever seen.

Man Utd clear favourites to win Maguire race over Man City

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Man City can’t rival the astronomical fee for Harry Maguire, which is fantastic news for rivals Man Utd.

Leicester City is playing hardball. Asking for a higher fee than Liverpool paid for arguably the best defender in English football, Virgil Van Dijk, at £75million.

Football fans are torn in half, some believing that the asking price is unjustified. Others believe modern inflation of the market has resulted in Maguire being worth over £75million.

Being a starting English international, Premier League proven, a fantastic defender and a menace from corners, the asking price seems fair. Many questioned the price of Van Dijk who came from Southampton and he transformed the Liverpool defence.

Manchester City is put off by the fee, having recently spent £63million for midfielder Rodri, previously contracted to Atletico Madrid.

Two outcomes

As it stands, there are two outcomes for Harry Maguire’s immediate future. He will either be a Manchester United man or a Leicester City man come the beginning of the Premier League 19/20 campaign.

According to reports, United recently had a £70million rejected by Leicester, a figure that City aren’t keen on going near. However, the red devils are ready to offer what they need to in order to secure the services of one of the league’s best defenders.

Maguire is needed

Manchester United conceded 54 goals last season in the Premier League, the most in the top 9. Which explains why Solskjaer is keen on bolstering the back line. Following the signing of the best right-back according to defensive statistics.

With a back line of Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Manchester United would have a competent defence for the first time since we saw the partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic.

Rumours have it that Maguire favours the move to Man City, due to the success of Guardiola’s Citizens. They have a much more exciting future than Manchester United, being involved in the Champions League and will be chasing the league title for years to come. The future of Manchester United is very uncertain, as they play Europa League football under the inexperienced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Forget Ake, Man City should be going for one of these 2 defenders instead

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Manchester City is prepared to pay £40million for Dutch international Nathan Ake. Here at the Football Manc Cave think there are better options for Pep and his team?

24-year-old Ake currently plays for Bournemouth and is a highly thought of talent in English football. He joined the southern club from another southern club, Chelsea, in 2017 for around £23million after spending a season on loan with the club originally.

With the loss of Vincent Kompany at Manchester City, alongside the abysmal display in the Nations League from John Stones. It appears likely that the Citizens are in need of one or two world-class centre-backs.

There is no doubt that Nathan Ake is a class defender in the Premier League, having 117 games experience in the competition. But is he what Man City need to win the league for the third time in a row, and challenge for the Champions League next season?

Potentially. However, some would say that Ake isn’t the level of quality (yet) to be part of a squad aiming for the treble of trophies.

So, here are two alternatives for Man City to put their £40million towards…

Sergio Ramos

Ramos will turn 34 towards the end of next season, but would no doubt be one of the best defenders in the Premier League. He is also a renowned European Champion, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid 4 times.

He would give Man City the Champions League quality they need to progress further than they have in recent years. At 33 years old and two years left on his contract with Real Madrid, Man City could steal Ramos for two or three seasons and clinch a Champions League before the end of his service.

Michael Keane

It’s not unheard of for ex-Manchester United players to join Man City after being dismissed by their former club. The likes of Owen Hargreaves, Carlos Tevez and Peter Schmeichel have all made the move.

Michael Keane, similar to Ake, has 120 Premier League appearances but has been a starting feature for a very impressive Everton side. Keane would provide more quality selections for the back line of Manchester City, and the 26-year-old would cost around £30million.

Exciting 20y/o Jose Cifuentes fancies a move to Man City, who is he?

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The 20-year-old Ecuadorian confesses his love for English football amid talks of a move to Man City.

Cifuentes currently plays in his home country for CD América de Quito, the youngster only has 16 games experience at club level.

However, the Under 20s World Cup recently took place. Where Cifuentes made a name for himself by helping his team achieve third place by beating Italy, as well as being awarded the best goal of the competition.

International success is a great avenue to be scouted by bigger clubs. As the likes of Celtic and Manchester City, have now drawn their eyes towards the defensive midfielder after a fantastic World Cup run.

In an interview with Blessed Football, the Ecuadorian stated:

“My intention is to leave. I have given everything of me in the America de Quito. I hope to leave before the end of the year, “he confessed. “One of the interested teams is Manchester City. I would like to be there, I like English football. I want to go out and take on new challenges”

Cifuentes appears keen on a move to England, but what can this undiscovered star offer to Manchester City’s squad?

Fits right in

The defensive midfielder Jose Cifuentes is small in stature. Should Man City fans be expecting a replacement for Yaya Toure, they would have to set their sights elsewhere. Cifuentes is fantastic at maintaining possession for his squad. He is calm and calculated with his movements, making him perfect for Manchester City’s dominant ethic towards football matches.

Young leader

With Manchester City’s squad having many experienced players such as Kompany (now left to Anderlecht), David Silva, Kyle Walker, etc reaching the latter stages of their career. It is important to harness youth that possesses leadership qualities, Cifuentes fits that mould. The way he dictates midfield ensures that he would fit into any Premier League squad.

TO-DO LIST: Man City must tick of these 3 things before the season starts – Agree?

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Guardiola’s Manchester City isn’t perfect, yet.

Manchester City enjoyed four trophies last season after clinching the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Community Shield. However, something is missing; a European title.

Achieving Champions League success will be of top priority to Manchester City, having been the only trophy they have missed out on previous years. It is rumoured that the likes of Liverpool and City are only interested in making minor alterations to their top-notch squads this summer.

The following should be Guardiola’s ‘To-Do’ list in order to achieve a full scoop next season, including that mouth-watering Champions League trophy.

Just one big signing?

Adding to the strength of the Manchester City squad with a big Champions League proven name, would not only increase the quality of the squad’s rotation but would also increase their chances in succeeding in Champions League football. Despite the domestic success, this City squad is yet to prove themselves on the European state. Therefore, bringing in a player who thrives off Champions League success could potentially be the finishing touch. Names to spitball could be the likes of Neymar, Sergio Ramos, Dybala, Lewandowski etc.

Lay off the League Cup

Every trophy matters, but Manchester City used immensely quality squads in all competitions last season. However, allowing the youth to play in the Carabao Cup and early stages of the FA cup would be two birds, one stone situation. As the youth get experience, the first team squad would be fitter and fresher to deal with the demands of simultaneous Premier League and Champions League success.

Guardiola effect

The upcoming season may well be Pep Guardiola’s last season with Manchester City, as will be the case for superstar David Silva. It is of great importance that the methodology and culture instilled by the manager are maintained after his departure.

Man Utd make an increased offer for Maguire: What 2 abilities would he bring to Man Utd

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Manchester United have outbid Manchester City in the race for Harry Maguire

Reports suggest that Man Utd have put a £70million bid in for Leicester City’s centre-back Harry Maguire, putting them a few feet forward ahead of their rivals in the battle for the 26-year-old’s signature.

Rumours regarding Maguire’s future have been ongoing for the past year, but have been appearing realistic in recent weeks. With the two potential suitors being narrowed down to the two Manchester teams; City and United.

In respect to their situation of each club, it is obvious that Manchester United are more in need of the services of Harry Maguire. Last season, Manchester City conceded only 23 goals whereas Manchester United conceded 54.

Apart from Maguire undoubtedly improving the defence and allowing Manchester United to concede fewer goals, here are two major impacts Harry Maguire would have at Old Trafford…

Aerial duels

Manchester United currently rely on Chris Smalling to attack the ball with his head, his current aerial duel success rate in the Premier League stands at 63%, as opposed to Harry Maguire’s 68%. Victor Lindelof has become a fan favourite after asserting himself in the starting 11 over last season, and having Maguire next to him can make up for his slight lack in aerial ability.

Playing from the back

Last season in the Premier League, Lindelof was United’s ball playing defender, making an average of 50 passes per match, 10 more than Chris Smalling. Harry Maguire however, averaged 56.

By having Lindelof who can pass, recover and has much better-tackling statistics than his partner Smalling, next to Harry Maguire who made 191 accurate long balls last season. Manchester United can do what they do best and recover the ball in their own half and send their pacey forwards off for the counter-attack.

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