The pending arrival of Pep Guardiola in the summer has led to huge speculation that some of the best players on the planet could soon be on their way to Manchester City to accompany him.
Of course, Guardiola, the manager with the best pedigree in football right now, has the potential to secure the services of big-name players and his reputation of winning practically any competition he takes part in could also see players from Europe wanting to ply their trade in the English game.
Big things will be expected of Guardiola and City next season and there will have to be changes to the playing squad to live up to the expectations which will undoubtedly be in place at the Etihad from August.
As such, the fans in the bar have gathered to discuss a dream XI Guardiola could field at the Etihad- and it looks tasty!!
Hit Guardiola below to see the DREAM XI he could field at Man City next season!
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Manuel Neuer
It would be a massive call for Guardiola to decide that he doesn’t want to persevere with the current England number 1 Joe Hart and replace him with someone else. Hart has been pretty faultless over the last couple of years and is a big favourite with the club, however somebody like Manuel Neuer would be a massive capture for the club.
Current Bayern Munich and Germany keeper Neuer has a great reputation due to his unothordox style of playing as a sweeper sometimes but his performances between the sticks over recent years cannot be ignored by anybody and he rightly earns himself the accolade as the best keeper on the planet right now.
Dani Alves
One area that Guardiola will have to improve is the defence and the best way to do that is to go out and buy the best defenders in the game. Alves, at 32, might not be getting any younger but he is still at the peak of his powers and is a big part of Barcelona’s success over recent years.
He is one of the most decorated full-backs in the history of the game winning 29 major honours at club level, including three Champions Leagues. His experience would be massive for Guardiola who knows Alves from his own time at the Nou Camp.
Vincent Kompany
There may not be many of the current squad that will play regularly in the future under Guardiola but their talismatic skipper will surely be one of those. The stats are there for all to see, City are simply a better side when Kompany plays and they hugely miss his presence when he is unavailable.
Since his arrival in the Premier League in 2008 he has grown to be one of the best defenders in Europe and with six major honours at the Etihad Stadium he will be as important as anybody to Guardiola next season.
Mats Hummels
City haven’t had much luck with managing to find a long-term partner to Kompany but what a player they would have on their hands with Hummels.
After not getting much of a look in at Bayern as a youngster he has been a big part of the Borussia Dortmund dynasty where he has proven himself to be one of the very best defenders in the world. His performances over recent years have been astonishing and he would be a very welcome addition to City.
Marcelo
Another player that Guardiola will know from his time in Spain, albeit from a rivarly point of view, is Real Madrid left-back Marcelo. Like Alves on the right, Marcelo is regarded as one of the very best left full backs in the game right now and he also knows what it takes to be a winner, with 12 major honours under his belt.
Guardiola may find it difficult to prise away both Barcelona and Real Madrid’s first choice full backs but if he can then he will know he will have one of the best defensive units in world football.
David Silva
Much like Kompany, City are a much better side with David Silva in it. Having been at the Etihad Stadium for six years now he has nearly 250 appearances for City under his belt and has six major honours including two Premier League titles.
He was also part of the all-conquering Spanish side between 2008 and 2012 and he is still a player that has lots to offer to City, and the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso
One of the keys to Bayern Munich’s success under Guardiola has been the influence of midfielder Xabi Alonso. Highly experienced in that holding midfield role, Alonso has something which a lot of the squad might not have next season, vast Premier League experience.
During his five years with Liverpool, Alonso made nearly 150 Premier League appearances so that experience will come in valuable as well. It is surely no coincidence that he wins trophies everywhere he plays, 11 in total in his club career but he also has a World Cup winners medals and two European Championships with his native Spain.
Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne was a club record signing last summer for a reported £55 million and although his time has been interrupted somewhat by injuries so far he has shown glimpses that he has a huge future at City.
After surprisingly being sold by Chelsea in 2014, he spent a year in Bundesliga with Wolfsburg before joining City last season. At only 24, he has many years ahead of him and under the guidance of Guardiola next season, the Premier League could really see the best of De Bruyne and that is a scary thought for the rest of the league.
Neymar
Ideally, Guardiola would love to sign Lionel Messi but that looks extremely unlikely but the next best thing to that is Neymar. He is a third of the most feared strikeforce on the planet at the minute but occasionally finds himself in the shadow of Messi and Luis Suarez so might want to move on to prove himself to be the main man somewhere else.
He would certainly be that at City and on current form he would be a fantastic addition, he has scored 77 goals in only 127 appearances for Barcelona and that would go down a treat should he repeat it in England.
Sergio Aguero
Again, Aguero is simply a player that City can’t afford to lose. He has been their main man for the last few seasons, and although the strikeforce could very well be strengthened in the summer Aguero still has as much to offer as anyone else.
92 Premier League goals in only 138 appearances for City tells its own story and he is showing great form again this season.
Raheem Sterling
Another young expensive signing for City last summer and they will want to make sure that investment pays off.
Sterling is one of the most talented English young players for a while and he could also flourish under the guidance of Guardiola next season.
