Man City's stunning £270m transfer window as Serie A stars arrive and shock departures in bold prediction

An intriguing summer lies in wait for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City as the former Barcelona head coach targets an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title.

With history made over the last two seasons, Pep’s focus may well be on a second Champions League final win and gaining some revenge for the FA Cup Final defeat inflicted on his side by cross-city rivals Manchester United last month. There are some big calls for the City boss to make in the transfer market this summer and possibly the greatest could be over the futures of key duo Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne, who have both been strongly linked with moves to the Saudi Pro League in recent weeks.

But how will Pep act in the transfer market this summer? We here at 3AddedMinutes have fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes the coming months will pan out for City.

Goalkeepers

It was a case of one-in, one-out for Pep’s options between the sticks as Stefan Ortega is allowed to depart to join La Liga club Valencia in a £9m deal. His replacement is PSV Eindhoven’s Oliver Christensen, who makes a £3.5m switch to the Etihad. There is a permanent place in the senior squad for highly-rated youngster Spike Brits too as he becomes Pep’s third choice stopper. Although that could be because, sadly, Scott Carson was forced into retirement with a knee injury he suffered playing for City’s Under-21s during the first month of the season.

Pep’s goalkeeping options: Ederson, Oliver Christensen, Spike Brits

Defenders

Now here is a surprise and it’s not the last. John Stones’ time as a City player is over as the England international moves to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in a £38m deal. He is not the only defensive departure as Callum Doyle (£12m to Leeds United), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (£10m to Southampton) and Sergio Gomez (£1m to Al-Duhail) all head for pastures new. Pep has added to his defensive ranks with Arsenal’s Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu making a shock £21m move to the Etihad Stadium. Scottish youngster Josh Doig also joins in a £14m deal from Italian side Sassuolo and RB Salzburg versatile defender Amar Dedic arrives in a £35m move.

Pep’s defensive options: Ruben Dias, Yan Couto, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Josh Doig, Josko Gvardiol, Rico Lewis, Amar Dedic.

Midfielders

Probably best to ease City fans into this one by revealing Kalvin Phillips and Matheus Nunes have departed to join Inter Milan and Bayern Munich for a combined income of £42m. But the big departure of Kevin De Bruyne as the City legend joins John Stones in Saudi Arabia after joining Al-Ahli in a £21m deal. Pep swoops for Napoli’s Polish midfielder Piotr Zielinski on a free transfer and promotes James McAtee and Argentine youngster Maximo Perrone to the first-team squad on a permanent basis.

Pep’s midfield options: Mateo Kovacic, James McAtee, Piotr Zielinski, Rodri, Maximo Perrone.

Forwards

The only departure in attacking positions is youngster Micah Hamilton as he joined Wolves in a £12m move - but there is one new arrival as Pep makes his costliest addition of the summer with the capture of Fiorentina’s Argentina international Nicolas Gonzalez. He costs City £53m and will face severe competition for a place in Pep’s lineup.

Pep’s forward options: Bernardo Silva, Nicolas Gonzalez, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland.