How Manchester City's Strongest XI Could Look by the Start of Next Season

With the 2019/20 season still suspended, it's unclear when we'll see the 2020/21 season roll around, but make no mistake, it will get here eventually.


With Liverpool set to knock Man City off of their Premier League perch this season, the Cityzens will be hoping to steal back their Premier League crown next season.


Here is how City's ideal starting XI could look next season, if the transfer window goes their way.



GK - Ederson


Having made the goalkeeper position his own since his arrival at the Etihad back in 2017, the club will be more than happy to enter next season with Ederson between the sticks once again.


The Brazilian has been impressive during his City career and his excellent distribution makes him the perfect goalkeeper in a Pep Guardiola system.



RB - Nelson Semedo


With Joao Cancelo struggling to adapt to the Premier League, City are keen on sending the Portuguese full-back to Camp Nou in exchange for Barcelona defender, Nelson Semedo.


While Kyle Walker has performed admirably in the right-back role for City, the Englishman will be 30 years old by the time the 2020/21 season arrives and Pep will be looking for a long-term replacement with Semedo atop his list.



CB - Aymeric Laporte


If Man City's 2019/20 season has shown us anything, it's how important Aymeric Laporte is to the team. Laporte's injury this season exposed City's defence and showed how much weaker they were without the Frenchman.


Laporte is considerably stronger than the rest of City's centre-back options and Guardiola will be hoping he'll be an ever-present figure for the side next year as they hope to return to the top of English football.



CB - Dayot Upamecano


As previously mentioned, City struggled in defence this season with Laporte out injured for most of the campaign and the Cityzens will look to strengthen their centre-back options, to prevent a repeat should Laporte get injured again.


One of Europe's most sought-after talents, City will be hoping to lure RB Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano to the Etihad, despite interest from several fellow elite teams.


At 21-years old, City will want Upamecano to forge a centre-back partnership with Laporte and will be hoping it will be one the club can rely on for years to come.



LB - David Alaba


Despite City spending well over £100m on their defence over the years, the club has never found someone to hold down the left-back position. Benjamin Mendy has struggled with injuries, only making 31 appearances in the league for City since his arrival in 2017, so the club will be looking for someone who can instantly make an impact for the side and really put a stamp on the the team.


David Alaba is sure to be the right man for the job. Having already worked with City boss Pep Guardiola during the Spaniard's time at Bayern Munich, Alaba would slot into City's defence with relative ease and could help strengthen City's defence.



CM - Kevin De Bruyne


With City potentially on the receiving end of a two-year ban from the Champions League, Kevin De Bruyne has admitted the ban could force him to leave the club in search of European football, but City will be doing everything they can to keep the midfielder at the Etihad.


De Bruyne has been City's best player over the last few years and is one of the best midfielders in the world. Any team without him is considerably weaker than one with him and City will hope to keep the Belgian if they're going to stand any chance at stealing their Premier League crown back from Liverpool.



CM - Ilkay Gündoğan


With the ability to fill several different midfield roles, Gündoğan has been pivotal to City's success since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund.


The German was a key figure in City's back-to-back title winning sides and the club will be hoping the midfielder can continue his form for the club heading into next season.



RW - Bernardo Silva


An ever-present figure in City's back-to-back Premier League winning sides, Silva has been consistently great for the Cityzens since his arrival in 2017.


Silva has been a force for City, winning the club's Player of the Year award last season and at only 25-years old, the club will be hoping to see Silva in a City shirt for the foreseeable future.



CAM - Phil Foden


Having emerged from City's youth academy, Phil Foden has been touted as one of the best young talents in Europe for several seasons now, but has found first-team football hard to come by, with David Silva excelling in the attacking midfield position.


With Silva set to leave the Etihad this summer, Foden will finally get the chance to show City he's the best option for the club going forward.


It's time for Foden to prove everyone touting him for success right and establish himself as City's first choice no.10.



LW - Raheem Sterling


The last couple of seasons have seen Raheem Sterling develop into the world-class talent many had expected him to become. The winger has put it all together in recent years and become one of Man City's most important players.


Only 25, City will be keen on Sterling continuing to impress for the club for many years to come.



ST - Sergio Agüero


Having scored more Premier League goals for City than anyone else in history, Agüero has firmly cemented himself among the club's all-time greats, but there's no reason to expect him to slow down just yet.


Despite several injuries over recent seasons, the striker has still shown how lethal he is in front of goal and has only failed to score 20 Premier League goals in a season three times during his City tenure.


Although it's been rumoured Agüero could be on his way out of the Etihad sooner rather than later, the club would be wise to leave the Argentinian to continue to lead their attack, potentially to another Premier League title.




Source : 90min