If Manchester City can fill the holes in their squad this summer they’ll bounce back quickly | OneFootball

Manchester City guaranteed themselves a place on next season’s UEFA Champions League with a 2-nil victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage on the final day of the Premier League season. Pep Guardiola’s side went unbeaten in their final 10 Premier League games. The stretch was a promising sign ahead of a crucial summer for the club. There are obvious holes in Pep Guardiola’s squad, and if they are filled this summer, it should see Manchester City enter next season in good shape.

Pep Guardiola is happy with his Manchester City squad, but there are areas to improve.

Speaking during his post-game press conference after his team’s win over Fulham, Pep Guardiola didn’t believe that his squad needed an overhaul this summer. Instead the Manchester City believes that there are areas of his squad that need improving. Speaking on what the club may do during the summer transfer window, Guardiola told the media: “What happens next season the club is going to decide. I give my suggestions but the club will decide. I don’t have the feeling [about needing an overhaul], I’m sorry!“

“Maybe the club is a little different, we’ll see, but I have 24 players, and I see my players the day before in training, I said, ‘Oh my god! How good they are!’ But of course, new faces will come, especially in positions where we’re a little weaker.“

The positions that City must strengthen are clear to see.

The areas that Manchester City needs to strengthen this summer are obvious. They desperately need more creativity and drive in midfield, and they do look to be determined to add these specific attributes this summer. If they can bolster their midfield stocks, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Manchester City contending on multiple fronts next season.

The full-back positions do appear to be the next area of Pep Guardiola’s squad that must be upgraded. If they can sign a proper right and left-back, it would add another dimension to Manchester City’s play. Signing a left-back would allow Josko Gvardiol to move to centre-back on a permanent basis. Signing a right-back who can get up and down the pitch properly would go along way in filling the hole that Kyle Walker’s decline and January departure left. That’s another area of the Manchester City squad that must be strengthened.

Manchester City need to bolster their midfield and sign new full-backs this summer. They are obvious needs that must be addressed this summer. Perhaps they will need to sign a new goalkeeper depending on what happens with Ederson and Stefan Ortega this summer. But Pep Guardiola’s assessment is right, the Manchester City squad only needs fine tuning this summer. If that is done correctly then we should see City contend on multiple fronts next season. That’s the challenge ahead of Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain this summer to give Pep Guardiola the squad he needs to get Manchester City back up the table for next season.