“If they can find the right players” – Manchester City retain interest in two new signings this summer

Manchester City retain an interest in further strengthening their first-team squad before the ongoing summer transfer window comes to a close at the end of the month.

At present, City officials have made just the one addition into Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering squad this summer, following the deal to secure 20-year-old Brazil international Savinho from City Football Group sister club Troyes.

Following a fair value assessment on the deal, it was confirmed by various sources that the two clubs had reached an agreement on an initial £21 million transfer fee, potentially rising to £33.6 million through add-ons.

But given the number of exits from the first-team squad, both in the way of permanent and temporary agreements ahead of the new season, there remains a desire from several quarters to see Manchester City recruit further in the time that remains this summer.

And following a big-money exit involving Julian Alvarez, alongside a long-standing desire to secure support for Rodri, Manchester City recruitment chiefs may feel as though they have both the time and the funds to act on those calls.

According to the information of Sky Sports’ Ben Ransom, while Manchester City are ‘very happy’ with the shape of the squad ahead of the new campaign, the club are continuing to target two further signings this summer, if they can find the ‘right players’.

Understandably, a central midfielder is said to be among the areas that require reinforcement in the final weeks of the market, with the club aware that Pep Guardiola may not have sufficient support to Rodrigo across a season that could encompass in excess of 60 matches.

Following the recent exit of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid in a €95 million agreement, there is also now no natural striker in the Manchester City squad to act as back-up for mainstay number nine, Erling Haaland.

As such, City officials will be looking to invest in that role, but the challenge will no doubt be – as pointed out by Sky Sports – finding a player willing to accept a role as understudy to the aforementioned Norwegian and take a seat on the substitute’s bench most weeks.

Manchester City’s season is already five matches deep, having completed a four-game pre-season tour of the United States, and secured victory in the FA Community Shield against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

Those contests have also offered an insight into some of the tactical adjustments that Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff may be looking to implement this season, should they not recruit further in the market.

The most notable of those changes has seen Nico O’Reilly promoted from the club’s Elite Development Squad into their first-team system, working alongside Mateo Kovacic in a defensive midfield pairing.