Pep Guardiola took his first Man City training session this week as he begins his new role as the boss of the Ethiad side, and City fans in the bar at the Football Transfer Tavern are struggling to contain their excitement, not only for the coming season but for the prowess that such a manager brings in the transfer market.
Over recent years, Manchester City have not been famous for blooding in their youngsters, often choosing to purchase already proven starlets from abroad. However, things look like they could be set to change with the arrival of the Spaniard this summer.
In 2014, Manchester City opened their £200 million training academy, and much emphasis has been put on the importance of generating their own youngsters. Something which seems even more essential now with the new rules regarding home-grown players.
Pep Guardiola is well known for his trust in young players, after all he was the one that supported Messi through his younger years at Barcelona.
Taking over at Barcelona in 2008, he started his overhaul by announcing that the likes of Ronaldinho, Deco and Samuel Eto’o would not be part of his long term plans. Instead bringing in a 21-year-old Pique from Man United, and promoting the likes of Busquets, Pedro and Jeffren to the first team.
It is highly likely Pep will be looking to do something similar at The Ethiad, with ageing players like Yaya Toure, Zabaleta and Kolarov likely to leave, we can expect to see youth promoted from the academy, but also some young prospects to be transferred from elsewhere.
And what better place to scout than on one of the biggest stages of them all, the international stage, at Euro 2016.
Here are five wonderkids that Guardiola should take notice of this summer…
Joshua Kimmich
21-year-old German midfielder, Joshua Kimmich is someone Guardiola will know very well from his time at Bayern Munich. Purchased by Pep in January 2015, in his first full season, Kimmich made 15 appearances, playing in both the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Currently making strides on the international stage, after playing well against Italy last week, he has a good chance of starting in Germany’s Semi-Final against France.
Likely to cost more than the £7 million Bayern Munich paid for him, he remains a potentially good investment for Manchester City, and could likely be persuaded to make the move to England by the man who ignited his career.
Kimmich even paid tribute to Guardiola , suggesting “he owes him everything”, as he left Bayern at the end of the season.
Leroy Sane
Currently plying his trade at Bundesliga club Schalke, the German born winger is making his international tournament debut with the German national team this summer, and will be hoping to get some game time in the upcoming match against France.
At just 20 years of age, he is known for his fast feet and dribbling skills, and has already racked up 57 appearances over the last three seasons for Schalke, scoring 13 goals.
A player Guardiola has looked at carefully already, some are reporting that a £40 million deal has already been agreed for the attacking player.
Julian Weigl
Linked with Manchester City earlier in the year with the fee suggested to be around £20 million, reports regarding this transfer do seem to have died down of late.
However, you can be sure Guardiola is still keeping tabs on the 20-year-old, having just broken the Bundesliga possession record in May. Taking possession of the ball 214 times in Dortmund’s 2-2 draw with Cologne, this is a player that looks perfectly suited to Pep’s style of play.
Starting in 41 games last season, the midfielder is known for his clever passing and movement, and is currently away at Euro 2016 on international duty with Germany.
Sergio Rico
With Joe Hart having a shaky tournament with England, to say the least, Guardiola might be looking for a new goalkeeper this summer.
Sergio Rico is perhaps a little young at the moment, at only 22. However the La Liga player certainly shows promise, being promoted to Sevilla’s first team back in 2014, and going on to make 55 appearances since.
He was part of the squad that won the Europa League title for the third consecutive time this season, and was picked to travel with the Spain squad to France this summer, as one of two back up keepers to David De Gea.
De Gea would act as great inspiration for the young talent, who moved to the Premier League at 21 back in 2011, and quickly established himself as Man United’s first choice keeper.
Even if Guardiola was not prepared to take the risk of putting the youngster between the sticks this season, he would be a real coup for the future regardless.
Kingsley Coman
A slightly more ambitious target, this is a player Guardiola knows well after the Frenchman sealed a two year loan with Bayern Munich from Juventus in 2015.
Making a serious impact at the European Championships this summer, there will be a queue of clubs wanting the wonderkid’s signature.
If he isn’t on Guardiola’s list already, he certainly should be. Playing for France at youth level, and now for the first team, the Ex-PSG player is pacey, a swift dribbler, and has been tearing defences apart all summer.
However with another year on his loan deal left at Munich, this would not be a straight forward signing for The Sky Blues.
Though hope remains after Coman hinted he would like to play in the Premier League in April, and praised Guardiola, as reported by the Mail.
