With the signing of Erling Halaand already secured, Manchester City have made the perfect start to the transfer window ahead of next season.
Following their unsuccessful pursuit of Harry Kane last summer, City were criticised by some for not signing a striker to replace the departing Sergio Aguero. But Pep Guardiola 's side still managed to win the Premier League without a recognised centre-forward, and ahead of next season, City have acquired one of the most dangerous attackers in world football.
After completing the signing of Haaland, as well as Julian Alvarez who signed in January, City have been linked with a move for a new defensive midfielder and defender, with their attack now looking complete. The majority of rumours at City for this summer are focused on outgoings, with Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko potentially heading for the exit door.
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So, who could City sign this summer and how can we expect Guardiola's starting XI to look when the 2022 transfer window closes? Let's find out.
Man City's 2022/23 squad predicted after 2022 summer transfer window
To find out what the City squad could look like at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, we used Football Manager 2022 to predict City's incomings, outgoings and the future starting XI. Here's what happened!
Transfers in: £137 million
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Sandro Tonali (AC Milan) - £58 million
- Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - £51.1 million
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Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion) - £24 million
- Joshua Zirkzee (Bayern Munich) - £3.8 million
Haaland wasn't City's biggest signing of the 2022/23 season, with the Norwegian costing a few million less than their biggest signing of the window. Sandro Tonali was brought in for the biggest transfer fee, arriving from AC Milan for £58m.
Brighton wing-back Tariq Lamptey joined for £24m after two impressive seasons with the Seagulls, adding more cover to City's full-back positions. And lastly, City made a signing for the future, bringing in Bayern Munich's Joshua Zirkzee for £3.8m.
Transfers out: £77 million
- Gabriel Jesus (Tottenham) - £55 million
- Zack Steffen (Leeds) - £12.75 million
- Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund) - £9 million
- Yangel Herrera (Girona) - Loan
- Luke Mbete (Freiburg) - Loan
- Callum Doyle (Fleetwood Town) - Loan
- Cole Palmer (Luton Town) - Loan
As expected, the arrival of Halaand and Alvarez saw a forward depart City in the summer transfer window. Jesus left City for £55m for Spurs as he remained in England. Zack Steffen also moved to a fellow Premier League side, with the American joining Leeds for just under £13m.
Ilkay Gundogan returned to Borussia Dortmund for £9m, with youngster Luke Mbete joining Freiburg on a season-long loan. Yangel Herrera joined Girona on loan, whilst Callum Doyle was loaned to Fleetwood Town and Cole Palmer to Luton Town.
So, how did City line up in their first game after the 2022/23 transfer window? Let's take a look.
Man City predicted XI at the beginning of the 2022/23 season
In the first game after the closure of the summer transfer window, City beat Chelsea 1-0 in a narrow affair, with Kevin De Bruyne grabbing the only goal of the game. Haaland was the only new signing who made the starting XI, with Tonali and Lamptey making the bench.
City's line-up in the first game of the 2022/23 season was as follows: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Haaland, Foden.
Overall, Football Manager 2022 predicts that this summer's transfer window could see City add depth to their squad rather than improve the starting XI - after the signing of Haaland, that is. As well as bringing in four new faces, some big names were sold, leaving City with a net spend of £60m.
Would you be happy with these City transfers? let us know in the comments below!
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