Manchester City have big prizes on their radar before switching their attention to the summer window.
Having won yet another Premier League title last season, Pep Guardiola decided to revive his star-studded squad with Stefan Ortega, Sergio Gomez, Kalvin Phillips and Erling Haaland brought in. However, there were also one or two high-profile and surprising departures sanctioned before this campaign.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus moved to Arsenal as Chelsea signed Raheem Sterling with Portugal defender Joao Cancelo leaving mid-season for German heavyweights Bayern Munich on loan. It means that there have also been notable changes made to the squad numbers list over the last few months.
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Here are four City players who might have their eye on an upgrade next term;
Manuel Akanji (25): Having arrived from Borussia Dortmund last summer, the Switzerland international has quickly become an important player for Guardiola and his star-studded squad despite heavy competition for spots across his defensive line. Usual first-choice numbers in that regard are currently assigned, but Akanji will almost certainly take first dibs should any of them become available.
Phil Foden (47): Foden has worn number 47 throughout his City career due to sentimental reasons. As such, the England sensational might ultimately refuse any opportunity he has to pick up the vacant number 11 shirt, for example. However, there is no doubt he has earned such recognition. He might, though, just have one eye on the number 7 shirt if Joao Cancelo leaves the club on a permanent basis.
Cole Palmer (80): Palmer has been in and around the first-team squad for a little while now. However, from his shirt number alone, you would not think that. Several possible upgrades in the 20s and 30s are available if he wants to revamp his look.
Rico Lewis (82): After what has been a breakthrough season for the Academy graduate, you would expect Lewis to wear something lower than number 82 next term. His pick might well be governed by outgoings or domino effect prompted by other players, but without such changes number 15 and number 24 are, arguably, his most likely options right now.
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