Manchester City could launch an audacious double transfer swoop that would significantly weaken one of their Champions League rivals.

Manchester City could launch an audacious double transfer swoop that would significantly weaken one of their Champions League rivals.

City enjoyed a historic 2022/23 campaign as Pep Guardiola’s side won the Treble, but perhaps more significantly a first Champions League title in the club’s history.

City did not conduct a major overhaul of Guardiola’s squad last summer, bringing in the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Josko Gvardiol and Jeremy Doku as Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer left the club.

Though it was a typically quiet January at the Etihad Stadium – the only major piece of business was Kalvin Phillips’ loan move to West Ham – the Premier League champions are reportedly plotting two blockbuster summer moves.

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According to The Athletic, City could an attempt to sign both Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich.

City bosses are big admirers of Kimmich, especially as Guardiola worked with the German midfielder during his three-year spell in charge of Bayern.

“Although City sources played down the idea of a move for Kimmich in January,” wrote The Athletic’s City Correspondent Sam Lee, “The Athletic understands a summer move is a different matter.”

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When Guardiola was linked with a return to Bayern back in 2019/20, Kimmich admitted that he would love to work with the Spaniard again.

Over his managerial career Guardiola has tended to avoid plundering his former clubs for players, although doing so is not impossible if the player wants to leave.

Pep Guardiola gives instructions to Joshua Kimmich. Image: Getty
Lionel Messi came very close to joining City in 2020 after saying he wanted to leave Barcelona, and the same could happen if Kimmich tells Bayern he wants out.

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City would also entertain the idea of signing 20-year-old attacking midfielder Musiala, who is yet to extend his contract in Bavaria beyond the current 2026 expiration.

However, according to The Athletic, Guardiola and City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain are prioritising other positions to strengthen.

Next season will be the final of Kimmich’s current contract, and his ability to play both at right-back and in holding midfield makes him extremely appealing to Guardiola.

Three more Gameweek 22 matches take place this evening.

The headline news from the Etihad is a start for Kevin De Bruyne, who is back in Pep Guardiola’s line-up for the first time since Gameweek 1.

But Erling Haaland is only on the bench as he makes his first matchday squad appearance in two months.

Kyle Walker is demoted to substitute duty for the first time in the league this season, while Ruben Dias is also among the replacements.

John Stones and Rico Lewis are recalled.

Burnley boss Vincent Kompany makes just one change to his starting line-up as Sander Berge ousts Josh Cullen from midfield.

In the later kick-off at Anfield, Trent Alexander Arnold and Andrew Robertson are only among the substitutes for the hosts.

Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez start at full-back again as a result.

The front three from Gameweek 21, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, are reunited.

Chelsea’s only change from the side that drew 0-0 with Aston Villa in the FA Cup sees Ben Chilwell come in for Alfie Gilchrist.

Christopher Nkunku and Malo Gusto are substitutes on their returns from injury.

In north London, James Maddison starts for the first time since early November.

Oliver Skipp is also recalled as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Brennan Johnson both drop to the bench.

There is just one change for Brentford as Christian Norgaard replaces Mikkel Damsgaard in midfield.

GAMEWEEK 22 LINE-UPS
Manchester City XI: Ederson, Gvardiol, Ake, Stones, Lewis, De Bruyne, Rodri, Doku, Nunes, Foden, Alvarez.

Subs: Ortega, Walker, Dias, Kovacic, Haaland, Grealish, Silva, Gomez, Bobb.

Burnley XI: Trafford, Vitinho, O’Shea, Ekdal, Al-Dakhil, Gudmundsson, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert, Foster, Amdouni.

Subs: Muric, Cork, Roberts, Zaroury, Ramsey, Fofana, Cullen, Bruun Larsen, Massengo.

Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Skipp, Kulusevski, Maddison, Werner, Richarlison.

Subs: Forster, Hojbjerg, Dragusin, Gil, Royal, Johnson, Davies, Scarlett, Donley.

Brentford XI: Flekken, Collins, Pinnock, Mee, Roerslev, Norgaard, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Maupay, Toney.

Subs: Strakosha, Dasilva, Zanka, Ajer, Damsgaard, Baptiste, Yarmoliuk, Brierley, Fredrick.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Jones, Jota, Bradley.

Subs: Kelleher, Gakpo, Elliott, Robertson, Gravenberch, Clark, McConnell, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah.

Chelsea XI: Petrovic, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Gallagher, Sterling, Palmer.

Subs: Casadei, Mudryk, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, Broja, Gusto, Deivid Washington, Gilchrist, Bergstrom.

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