Paul Pogba and Toni Kroos next targets for Pep Guardiola after Manchester City confirm Ilkay Gundogan swoop - reports
Guardiola is understood to be willing to give injury-stricken captain Vincent Kompany time
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly hopes to make up to six more signings before the new Premier League season after completing the £20m capture of İlkay Gündoğan.
The Catalan boss, who officially started work on 1 June, secured the German international’s services from Borussia Dortmund this week as City kick-started their summer recruitment operation.
Gündoğan, 25, was signed up to a four-year contract in an apparent move away from trying to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba but, according to the Manchester Evening News, Guardiola retains an interest in the former Manchester United man.
Guardiola has been given the financial support of City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak meaning he now turns his focus to securing another star name to galvanise the Etihad club into life after finishing fourth last season.
The report suggests Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos is another target with Guardiola keen to strengthen across the board ahead of a new season that will see him lock horns with José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp, Arsène Wenger and Antonio Conte in the managerial stakes.
Guardiola is understood to be willing to give injury-stricken captain Vincent Kompany an opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the new season while Jason Denayer’s return from a season-long loan at Galatasaray offers defensive cover.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is likely to move for either Aymeric Laporte or John Stones, however, the Athletic and Everton defenders respectively, in an attempt to build from the back ahead of the new campaign.
The Independent understands that City are longstanding admirers of Laporte, with his serious injury not enough to put off their interest in the player. Stones, meanwhile, is being tracked by both Manchester United and Chelsea but is waiting to see who the Merseyside club appoint as Roberto Martinez’s successor before showing his hand.
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