No Man City players safe as Pep Guardiola plans summer transfer rebuild to catch Liverpool
Pep Guardiola claims no Manchester City star will be safe as he plans to turn the tables on Liverpool.
While the Catalan insists even his own position is under review, the focus will be on his back-to-back Premier League title winners as he enters the final year of his contract in the summer.
Guardiola wants to add a top class centre back after failing to replace Vincent Kompany last year.
He could also strengthen at left back and possibly attack, with a Leroy Sane a target for Bayern Munich.
He accepts Liverpool have been untouchable in a near-perfect campaign for Jurgen Klopp, which has put the Merseysiders on course for their first title for 30 years.
And he knows changes will be required at the end of the season to rise to the challenge of reclaiming City’s crown – telling his players they are fighting for their futures between now and May.
“My bosses have one eye to see if I deserve to continue here,” said Guardiola. “My eyes have to control my players and how their performances deserve to be here. There is no other solution.
“I have an idea what we need. We speak quite often with the club.
“There are still four months and it depends on that. We are going to take a decision.
“Everything is related to the performance, not about the contract we have or what we are. For me as a manager (I’m) being observed and it’s the same for the players.”
As impressive as Liverpool have been – picking up 64 from a possible 66 points – City’s own standards have been allowed to drop after dominating for the past two seasons.
Their five league defeats so far are already more game than in each of their title-winning campaigns.
And Liverpool’s 16-point advantage over them, with a game in hand, underlines the gap that needs to be bridged.
Guardiola had been determined to bring in a centre back last summer, but City weren’t prepared to match Manchester United’s £80m bid for top target Harry Maguire.
Meanwhile, Joao Cancelo is yet to establish himself, despite becoming the most expensive full back in English football following his £60m move from Juventus.
With David Silva leaving at the end of the season it is set to be a summer of upheaval.
Yet Guardiola is adamant major surgery is not required.
“We are not far away to get the standards (of Liverpool),” he added. “The way we’ve played is quite similar.
“I think every season all the teams move a little bit of the squad. Some have to move a lot in some areas. Maybe we have to buy some new players. Not much some new players.”
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