Pep Guardiola has expressed his views regarding Manchester City's summer transfer targets, especially after Ilkay Gundogan's performance that has automatically led to a new contract. The German midfielder has extended his contract at the Etihad until 2026, but it is still unclear if he will stay on with the club beyond this year.In the latest Manchester City news, Guardiola reaffirms that his first concern is to sign players who can cope with the high physical demands of the upcoming season. Gundogan's return to Manchester after spending a season in Barcelona appeared promising initially, but the evolving tempo of the Premier League has made it difficult for him to settle.
Over the last year away, the Premier League has evolved immensely, and Gundogan has struggled to keep up with the new pace of the league. Added to that is an injury crisis within the team, and this has left Gundogan playing more than he had anticipated. Although his contract renewal ties him down to City for another year, there are still doubts regarding whether a summer exit could be the best thing for everyone.
Guardiola said, "He has one year left on his contract, surely. What's going to happen, I have no idea. But he has one year left now. The Gundo of Leicester, the Gundo of Bournemouth, the Gundo of Palace is the Gundo I remember."
This campaign has seen a decline in Gundogan's typical high-level performances, and it has sparked controversy among Manchester City news circles as to his future. Guardiola did note, however, that if the team plays to a high standard, players like Gundogan can deliver. "When the team plays good, the player arrives. Without that, in modern football, you cannot do it," stated Guardiola.
The discussion moved on to Manchester City's need for transfers, namely the need for a strong left-back. Guardiola did acknowledge the issue, but reiterated that not having a traditional left-back has not been a serious hindrance previously. "I played with Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, Fabian Delph at left-back. We find solutions for many years," Guardiola said. He further noted that even with Nico O'Reilly having been trialed there, more solutions need to be found in the future.
Guardiola once more reiterated that the key for him is to get players who can remain fit and perform consistently. "You cannot play if you are not reliable and you are injured. The players we have, they can play every three days, or they cannot. Then we construct a team for next season," he stated.
With Manchester City already making preparations in advance of the next transfer window, the primary focus will be on assembling a team with a strong stamina level that will endure the speed and pressure of domestic and Champions League responsibilities.
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