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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Joseph McBride

Man City transfer plans made clear with £80million double deal mooted

Manchester City may have already wrapped up deals for Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, but they are still planning on signing both Kalvin Phillips and Marc Cucurella, according to reports.

City are known for strengthening every season, and with their mega-rich owners they certainly have the means to do so. And they've wasted no time in finally sorting a long-term striker, after failing to replace Sergio Aguero over the last two seasons.

Haaland has been signed from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £51.2million, and Alvarez will arrive after a £14.1m payment was made to River Plate. But they're not done yet, as chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak confirmed that there will be a "couple more" signings this summer.

After nine excellent seasons, Fernandinho is finally moving on, and City are reportedly looking at Phillips as a replacement. The Leeds United star has been heavily linked with a move away, and has impressed ever since earning promotion to the Premier League with the Peacocks.

It is thought that Leeds could demand £50m for the midfielder, as they prepare for a summer raid of both Phillips and Raphinha. Leeds retained their Premier League status on the final day as Burnley suffered relegation, which is likely to complicate things.

But it's a position that City need to fill, and that's exactly what they do when it comes to the transfer window, and their chairman hs promised that there will be a "couple more" arrivals. Mubarak told City's club website: "We are looking to strengthen areas we need to strengthen.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak will heavily back Pep Guardiola once again (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

"Every season some players leave and we have to refresh. We will be doing a couple more. We will try to go as fast as we can but it is not always entirely in our control."

And it may be a tough summer, as it's not just Leeds that are playing the slow game. City have been linked with a move for Brighton full-back Cucurella, who has really caught the eye since signing last summer.

The Spaniard has already established himself as one of Brighton's best players, as they achieved their highest ever Premier League finishes. And City are rumoured to be testing the waters with a £30m bid, with Oleksandr Zinchenko linked with a move away.

Marc Cucurella has attracted serious interest (Getty Images)

City may be consistently dominant in England, winning four Premier League titles in five seasons, but they continue to suffer in Europe as they continue to chase that illusive Champions League crown. And they'll need as much quality as possible to break the curse.

And Mubarak confirmed that they continue to aim for Champions League success every year, and their desperation to win the competition may influence their summer activity. Mubarak added: "We approach every season to try to win every competition.

"That has been the case for the last 10 years. You cannot argue in the last six years under Pep, we show up every game with the full intention to try to win."

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