With the 2015/16 Premier League season now officially over, the summer transfer window is beginning to loom over the English top flight.
It looks set to be yet another window of spending records being decimated all-round as the Premier League welcomes an unprecedented television deal and some of the best managers in the business amid a gaffer overhaul at the division's summit - including Pep Guardiola.
Indeed, Manchester City confirmed on the final day of the January transfer window that the Spaniard will replace Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season, leading to relentless speculation over which signings are set to join the Guardiola revolution at the Etihad this summer.
In fact, there's been so much talk in the rumour columns over the last few months that we at Football FanCast have managed to conjure up a select Xi composed entirely of reported transfer targets. According to tabloid valuations, this transfer target Xi would set City back a staggering £534million.
GOALKEEPER - MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN
With Pep Guardiola seemingly unconvinced by the efforts of Joe Hart this season, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been continually billed as a potential replacement in recent months. The German international is one of the top young goalkeepers in world football, claiming the UEFA Save of the Season award for 2015, but has been reserved almost exclusively for Copa del Rey and Champions League duties by Barcelona. Convincing the Catalans to sell this summer, however, will likely require a bid around the £20million mark.
RIGHT-BACK - DANI CARVAJAL
Guardiola looks set to instigate an overhaul of the Citizens' ageing full-back options with Real Madrid No.2 Dani Carvajal mooted as a potential target by Don Balon. The Spaniard blends graft off the ball with flair going forward and is a regular starter at the Bernabeu, but faces long-term marginalisation following the £25million arrival of Danilo last summer. Mirror Football, however, claim it could cost as much as £45million to convince Los Blancos to sell.
CENTRE-BACK - LEONARDO BONUCCI
Having unexpectedly described Leonardo Bonucci as one of his favourite ever players, rumours linking Pep Guardiola with a big-money bid for the Italian centre-half have been in copious supply recently. The 29-year-old is a member of Juventus' legendary three-man defence, lifting five consecutive Serie A titles with the Old Lady, and is reportedly rated at the £25million mark.
CENTRE-BACK - JAVIER MASCHERANO
Javier Mascherano was a key part of Pep Guardiola's squad at Barcelona and Calcio Mercato claim the duo could reunite at Manchester City this summer. A multi-Champions League winner and World Cup finalist with Premier League experience from his time at West Ham and Liverpool, the Argentina international would be a fantastic addition for the Citizens, whether he's operating in defensive midfield or at centre-half. Transfermarkt value the 31-year-old at around £12million and with his contract entering its final two years, Barcelona could be tempted to sell this summer.
LEFT-BACK - AYMERIC LAPORTE
Filling in at left-back for this select Xi is Aymeric Laporte, who can operate as a No.3 if required but has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting young centre-backs in world football. Indeed, the 21-year-old is very much La Liga's answer to John Stones and already boasts an impressive 146 first-team appearances for Athletic Bilbao. Some sources claim the Frenchman has already agreed a summer transfer to the Etihad, suggesting City have activated his £39million release clause.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD - TONI KROOS
Pep Guardiola only got one year out of Toni Kroos at Bayern Munich, lifting a Bundesliga title and a DFB Pokal together, before swanning off to Real Madrid in 2014. The German international is now considered as arguably the top playmaker in world football, winning World Cups and Champions League titles and famed for his mix of intelligence and technique. An Etihad reunion has been speculated by the Spanish press but City will have to match £40million interest from noisy neighbours Manchester United.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD - ILKAY GUNDOGAN
It's claimed Manchester City have already wrapped up a £30million deal for Ilkay Gundogan - although that could be affected by the Borussia Dortmund midfielder recently suffering a serious knee injury. Renowned for his tricky feet and energy, the German international seems like a pretty good fit for Guardiola's tiki-taka philosophy. And with his contract due to expire in 2017, it seems inevitable the Black-Yellows will sell one way or another this summer.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD - PAUL POGBA
Paul Pogba has emerged as arguably the top central midfielder in world football since swapping Old Trafford for the Old Lady in summer 2012, going on to win four Serie A titles with Juventus. The France international is somewhere between Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure on the goalscoring enforcer spectrum and seems like the ideal successor to the latter, should he leave the Etihad as expected this summer. The 23-year-old has been on City's radar for some time but agent Mino Raiola believes his client is worthy of a whopping £78million.
RIGHT WING - ALEXIS SANCHEZ
It didn't quite work out for Alexis Sanchez at Barcelona but that hasn't deterred the former Nou Camp gaffer's interest in the Arsenal star according to Mirror Football. The Chile international is one of the most potent attacking threats in the Premier League, notching up 29 goals in 62 appearances since the start of last season, and would consequentially bridge the gap between the Guardiola philosophy and the unique quirks of the English game. With his Emirates contract verging upon its final two years, it's claimed City will look to prize the 27-year-old away with a £40million bid.
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LEFT WING - NEYMAR
Barcelona's continued failure to extend Neymar's contract beyond 2018 will only exacerbate rumours of a big-money move to the Premier League as we get closer to the summer transfer window. The Brazil international remains one of the top talents in world football, boasting an incredible haul of 266 career goals at just 24 years of age and picking up countless accolades in the process. The Citizens have been linked with the winger-forward repeatedly this season but the Catalans are desperate to hold onto him - so any deal this summer will likely be via his £145million release clause.
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STRIKER - ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
Rumour has it Robert Lewandowski could look to leave Bayern Munich this summer, with Manchester City mooted as a potential next destination. The Poland international is arguably the top finisher in world football and has enjoyed two strong seasons under Guardiola, netting 67 times in 99 appearances to fire the Bavarians to consecutive Bundesliga titles. The Express value the 27-year-old at around £60million but Real Madrid and are also known to be interested.
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