Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Haaland, Alvarez, Saka in - the two Man City XIs Guardiola could pick next term

talksport.com, 13 June 2022, 21:14
Manchester City are a team who have the potential to be unstoppable next season.

Pep Guardiola's side have secured back-to-back Premier League titles but have been pushed all the way by rivals Liverpool on the domestic front.

In the Champions League, things haven't exactly gone to plan as an elusive first European crown continues to evade them, but based on the summer's transfer activity so far, it's clear City mean business.

Julian Alvarez has arrived at the Etihad Stadium after his loan spell in Argentina, while a blockbuster £51million deal to bring in Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund has also been confirmed.

The 21-year-old is regarded as arguably the top striker in world football and his lethal touch in front of goal could be the difference between being a top-level team and simply unstoppable.

While Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are expected to move on, City have been heavily linked with three Premier League stars in the shape of Marc Cucurella from Brighton, Kalvin Phillips from Leeds and Bukayo Saka from Arsenal.

If any of those players do make the move, it could be game over for some clubs in the title race.

City's first team squad in the envy of most in world football, with the Spanish head coach boasting a squad so good that he could name two completely different starting XIs and be a match for almost anyone in the Premier League.

Here's a look at glorious dilemmas that Guardiola could face going into the new season.

Goalkeeper: Ederson or Zack Steffen

There's no doubting that City have one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Ederson between the sticks.

His shot-stopping abilities plus his ball-playing style make him a crucial part of Guardiola's side and with Steffen in reserve, City are in good shape going into the new season.

Right back: Kyle Walker or Joao Cancelo

Admittedly, Walker and Cancelo are two players who would usually be a part of Guardiola's best XI.

Both players are among the best full-backs in world football and whether they're playing left-back or right-back, City are blessed with defensive talent and attacking flair that make them a genuine threat from all areas of the pitch.

With Cancelo's eye for an assist, he's surely one of the most valuable tools in Guardiola's armoury.

Left back: Oleksandr Zinchenko or Marc Cucurella

Left-back is one area that Pep will be happy to strengthen.

As well as Cancelo, Zinchenko is fast becoming a very reliable part of Guardiola's side as as he grows in age he's clearly growing in confidence.

Brighton's Marc Cucurella has been linked with a move this summer and based on his impact on the south coast, there's no doubt that he could be someone with a very bright future if he was to complete a huge move to City this summer.

Centre back: Ruben Dias, Juan Laporte, John Stones or Nathan Ake

Quite simply, City have an embarrassment of riches in the heart of defence with four centre-backs who could walk into most sides in the league.

Dias and Laporte are probably Guardiola's most trusted options, with the perfect blend of power, leadership and grace on the ball.

That said, with Stones and Ake on standby it's clear that City are well stocked for whatever challenge comes their way.

Defensive midfielder: Rodri or Kalvin Phillips

Rodri was undoubtedly one of the finds of last summer as he slotted into the deep-lying midfield role seamlessly.

With Fernandinho moving on, Guardiola will be looking for another option in that role with the Leeds star heavily linked.

As we saw under Marcelo Bielsa, Phillips is someone who is more than capable of playing the quarter back role with ease and could be a great option in City's midfield.

Central midfielder: Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish

How Pep goes about picking his best XI with players like this in his ranks, I'll never know.

De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are certainly among City's top stars and they'll be chosen to play in the biggest match.

However there's little doubt that Gundogan and Grealish are both trusted as well and may even be options to slot in elsewhere in the team if an opening emerges.

Right winger: Riyad Mahrez or Cole Palmer

Ongoing speculation regarding the future of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus means that the club's attacking line could look different this term.

Palmer certainly showed glimpses of real quality last term and could be set for an increased role in Guardiola's plans going into next season.

With Mahrez the other option coming off the right flank, City will be delighted with the quality available from the inside forward in their squad.

Left winger: Phil Foden or Bukayo Saka

Like so many others in the team, Foden is a player who could play just about anywhere in Guardiola's XI.

His quality means that he'll be a near-certain starter next season if he can stay fit.

Saka has been linked with a move to City and if he does decide that he wants to play Champions League football this term, there's no doubt that the versatile Arsenal star would hit the ground running for Premier League champions.

Centre forward: Erling Haaland or Julian Alvarez

Two new stars who will get City fans salivating at the prospect of seeing them in action.

Haaland is the ultimate all-round forward with pace, power and one of the sharpest shots in world football, making him a threat for any defender that he comes across.

As for Alvarez, the 22-year-old certainly isn't just coming in as a squad player with the poacher undoubtedly a player who will be trusted to lead City's line in some big matches this term.

Here are the two starting XIs that Guardiola could select this term.

Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Luka Modric has reportedly decided whether he intends to remain at Real Madrid past the end of the season. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Leicester player Hamza Choudhury was mobbed by fans after arriving for his first senior international call-up. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is allegedly the subject of surprise interest from a Bundesliga club. 18 March 2025 talksport.com A brand-new competition will be taking place this summer, with some of the world's biggest clubs eyeing glory in the USA. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Ola Aina had a hilarious response to discovering he would be sharing a bed with Alex Iwobi on international duty. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Arsenal have added Carabao Cup winning Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes to their list of summer transfer targets, talkSPORT understands. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Vying for a place in the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Scotland and Greece will meet for the first leg of their promotion/relegation playoff on Thursday. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Troy Deeney has reiterated his belief that Mohamed Salah is 'not world class' after his Wembley woes. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Papiss Cisse has been convinced to come out of retirement at the age of 39 by a former Newcastle teammate. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams at opposite ends of Group C in the third round of AFC World Cup qualifiers will clash on Thursday as leaders Japan face Bahrain. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Danny Drinkwater was once given just an hour to leave Chelsea and led to a bust-up with the manager. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have no hope of clawing back their 12-point Premier League deficit to Liverpool despite the Reds' recent problems, Gunners expert Charles Watts believes. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Bayern Munich are reportedly among the clubs who have discovered the asking price of RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are one of three Premier League clubs who could reportedly pip rivals Manchester United and Chelsea to the signing of Sporting Lisbon's in-demand striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brazil and Colombia go head-to-head in the 38th instalment of this international fixture in Brasilia on Thursday night. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk There will be no return to the Brazil fold for Neymar in their clash with Colombia on Thursday night, as he has pulled out of the upcoming squad with injury. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona have all reportedly suffered a major blow in their pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak ahead of the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Thomas Tuchel not only raised eyebrows with his selections in his first England squad - but also with his omissions. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Paris Saint-Germain have been given the green light to reschedule a Ligue 1 fixture that could give them the edge against Aston Villa in the Champions League. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Jack Grealish "has to accept responsibility" and may need to "win the trust" of both Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel if he wishes to get his career back on track for club and country. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Italy and Germany will continue their long-standing footballing rivalry when they meet in a two-legged quarter-final in the UEFA Nations League this week, starting with a showdown in Milan on Thursday. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa are reportedly prepared to cash in on midfielder Enzo Barrenechea during the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 talksport.com There will be no Premier League football this weekend as the top-flight pauses for a scheduled mid-March break. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal intend to begin formal discussions with Bukayo Saka over a new contract ahead of his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury, according to a report. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Abdukodir Khusanov was welcomed home in style as he received a £135,000 Mercedes upon returning to Uzbekistan for international duty. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest are reportedly ready to fend off Liverpool if they express an interest in one of their star players. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kosovo will host Iceland at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri on Thursday evening in the first of their two-legged matchup in the UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoffs. 18 March 2025 talksport.com Next season The Premier League will be provided match balls by Puma, a decision that is likely to be an unpopular one with Mikel Arteta. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly prepared to let one of their first-team midfielders leave the club in the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hong Kong and Macao return to international action for the first time in 2025 on Wednesday, when they meet in a friendly at Mong Kok Stadium.