Manchester City’s eye-watering £466m transfer window predicted with PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern and Ajax deals

Manchester City have been ominously quiet during the summer transfer window - but that could all change over the next four weeks.

As it stands, an £18m deal for Troyes winger Savinho represents the only bit of incoming business overseen by the reigning Premier League champions since they retained their title at the end of last season. There have been departures with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Sergio Gomez and Tommy Doyle leaving the Etihad Stadium and there is ongoing speculation they could be joined by World Cup winner Julian Alvarez after reports suggested the Argentina international was in talks with La Liga club Atletico Madrid.

Speculation over possible incomings have been few and far between and there is probably little surprise given how much success Guardiola’s side have enjoyed in recent seasons. But we wondered what business the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss may well oversee before the window closes later this month - so we fired up Football Manager 2024 to see how the world’s most popular managerial simulation believes the remainder of the window will play out.

Goalkeepers

A rather low key start here as Guardiola retains faith with his three senior goalkeepers despite Ederson and Stefan Ortega being the subject of interest from major clubs in Europe and the Saudi Arabia Pro League.

Pep’s goalkeeping options: Ederson, Ortega, Carson

Defenders

Now we have some changes! Let’s start with the one outgoing as Joao Cancelo returns to La Liga giants Barcelona on a season-long loan. There were three significant additions to Pep’s defensive ranks as young duo highly-rated trio Jorrel Hato, Giorgio Scalvini and Nuno Mendes were brought in from Ajax, Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. That triple swoop set City back a cool £123m but also give the City boss the foundations of a defence for the next decade and beyond.

Pep’s defensive options: Dias, Akanji, Ake, Stones, Gvardiol, Lewis, Walker, Hato, Scalvini, Mendes

Midfielders

There were further changes in the middle of the park as Kalvin Phillips’ nightmare spell at the Etihad Stadium came to an end with a £12m move to Spanish club Real Betis and youngsters James McAtee and Maximo Perrone agreed respective season-long loan switches to Leeds United and Lyon. There were no arrivals in midfield as Guardiola seemed content to go into the new season with Rodri, Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Kevin De Bruyne.

Pep’s midfield options: Rodri, Nunes, Kovacic, De Bruyne

Forwards

Significant changes were made in the final third and art almost imitated life as Julian Alvarez - a target for Atletico Madrid in the real world - did get a move to the Spanish capital. However, the World Cup winner joined Real in a £65m deal. Jack Grealish was snapped up by Saudi club Al-Ittihad in a £62m move and youngster Oscar Bobb made a surprise departure to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich as City raked in £55m for the Norway international. Pep didn’t rest on his laurels as he spent over £100m on their replacements on Fiorentina winger Nico Gonzalez, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and Strasbourg youngster Milos Lukovic.

Pep’s forward options: Silva, Doku, Foden, Savinho, Haaland, Gonzalez, Eze, Lukovic

Ins

Savinho (18m from Troyes), Hato (£43m from Ajax), Scalvini (£52m from Atalanta), Gonzalez (£53m from Fiorentina), Mendes (£28m from PSG), Eze (£45m from Crystal Palace), Lukovic (£5m from Strasbourg)

Outs

Harwood-Bellis (£19m to Southampton), Gomez (£5m to Real Sociedad), Doyle (£3m to Wolves), Phillips (£12m to Real Betis), Perrone (loan to Lyon), McAtee (loan to Leeds United), Bobb (£55m to Bayern Munich), Alvarez (£65m to Real Madrid), Cancelo (loan to Barcelona), Grealish (£62m to Al-Ittihad)