Premier League Transfer Watch – Primary transfer targets for Manchester City & Liverpool

No football club is perfect in the world, no matter how good a season they have had. Every squad needs improvements and fresh arrivals to remain ultra-competitive.

Some managers look for better options, while the other aims to create depths in the squad. The Summer transfer window is one such period where the big business is done.

While the window is open for more than two months, the early business is still a Goldust as it allows a player to mold into the new manager’s tactics and philosophy before the new season finally kicks-off.

In England, the clubs can buy players from 16th May 2019 to August 9 and can sell players till August 31.

Here we are focusing on the top-two Premier League clubs.

Manchester City:

Pep Guardiola‘s side became the first ever team in more than a decade to defend its Premier League title. Despite Liverpool running them close, City still managed to amass an incredible 98 points.

It’s hard to find a weakness in City’s side when they continue to set the bar higher. Pep won a historic treble despite the likes of Riyad Mahrez not getting the enough playing minutes.

Here are the positions we think Pep Guardiola needs reinforcements.

Center-back: Captain fantastic Vincent Kompany has left the club to embark on a player-manager role at Anderlecht, while Nicolas Otamnedi is being pursued by Valencia and the Argentine could leave the club this transfer window. Regardless, City still needs to sign a center-back to challenge both John Stones and Aymeric Laporte. Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt are being linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium.

These two players won’t be easy to sign though. Maguire signed a new five-year contract only last year and will be hard to prise away from King Power Stadium. Ligt is even more difficult when you consider that Barcelona and Bayern Munich are after his signature as well.

Holding midfielder: City lacked control in the midfield when Fernandinho missed the action during the 2019 festive period. Ilkay Gundogan did reasonably well but City needs a new long-term replacement for the Brazilian midfielder.

Rumors has it that Pep has identified Atletico Madrid’s Rodri as a leading target for that position. The current English Champions should have no problem in meeting his £60m buyout clause.

Cover for Sergio Aguero: Gabriel Jesus was restricted to very few appearances during the 2018-19 season. He is young and is still learning, but the Cityzens could do with a more recognized striker to provide cover for Sergio Aguero.

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Liverpool:

The voices coming from Anfield indicates that Jurgen Klopp may not dive into the transfer window this season. Well, he may, but don’t expect him to splurge huge cash on new arrivals.

All Liverpool need is back-up to fill-in for the first team players whenever the situation demands. The left-back should be a priority for Klopp as Alberto Moreno is all but done as a Liverpool player.

Daniel Sturridge‘s contract is expiring and he will be leaving this summer, so a cover for Roberto Firmino looks a no-nonsense call. But it has been reported that Klopp is more than happy with Divock Origi‘s heroics this season, and may not sign a striker at all.

In addition, the likeliest position where Liverpool may sign a new player is goalkeeping. Simon Mignolet is expected to leave he seeks the first team football, so a back-up goalkeeper is needed at Anfield.