But we kick-off with the latest transfer rumours where there’s little sign of the summer frenzy surrounding City abating with the Club linked with a host of potential signings.
And according to the Mirror’s Simon Mullock, City are aiming to set the seal on four deals over the window with both an eye for the long terms and to provide quality competition for places across all areas.
Mullock scribes: “Manchester City want to go into the new season with a squad that gives Pep Guardiola TWO top players for EVERY position.
“City are looking to bring in up to four new faces in the coming weeks in a bid to hand Guardiola the tools to defend the Premier League title, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, as well as mounting a more sustained challenge for the Champions League.
“Mirror Sport can reveal how director of football Txiki Begiristain is now working to a blueprint designed to keep the club amongst the elite of European football for the long-term.
“The belief at the Etihad is that City are now moving towards a position where their recruitment policy will be one of evolution rather than revolution.
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“Begiristain identified either Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt or Leicester ’s Harry Maguire as candidates to replace departed skipper Vincent Kompany in central defence.
“City have earmarked another £55million to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri after deciding the 22-year-old is the long-term replacement for Fernandinho.
“An option to trigger a £10million buy-back clause to bring in Spanish defender Angelino from PSV Eindhoven is another deal that is likely to go through.
“And City meanwhile are also in talks with Juventus about signing £55million-rated Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo.”
Staying with the Mirror the focus switches to next season’s Champions League with City being tipped to finally end our Champions League hoodoo next season by former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
The Mirror scribe: “The Etihad Stadium side have enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, including back-to-back Premier League titles and a historic domestic treble in 2018/19.
“But European glory has continually alluded them, including a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat at the hands of Spurs in their most recent campaign.
“However, the legendary former manager reckons Pep Guardiola‘s men are the team to beat.
“Redknapp, speaking as the new brand ambassador for BetVictor’s #HeyHarry campaign, said: “I really feel this next few years, the Champions League is going to be made for the English clubs.
“We’ve got Man City next year, I fancy them next year. I think it’s their turn to win it.
“If I had to have a bet now on next year’s winners, I’d want to be with Man City.”
Finally, the news that Gabriel Jesus will wear the number nine shirt at the Club next season has prompted the Manchester Evening News’s Stuart Brennan to look at the roll-call of previous players who have worn the shirt.
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Brennan writes: “Older fans will instantly think of Francis Lee, who often wore the shirt in the great Sixties team while Neil Young, the elegant goalscorer in the team which won league, Cup Winners’ Cup, FA Cup and League Cup honours in the Sixties and early Seventies, but he is remembered more for wearing the number ten.
Numbers were not so important in the days before squad numbers, with several players wearing the nine in those glory years.
“But those fans will also think of Joe Royle and Brian Kidd, both excellent hitmen in their own right.
“Loyal Blues who trudged round the country supporting the club in its darker hours still speak with fondness of Paul Dickov, while Niall Quinn and Paulo Wanchope represent the initial renaissance years.
“But none of the major strikers they have signed since the 2008 takeover has worn the iconic ‘9’ - unless you include Emmanuel Adebayor, whose promising start to his City career quickly fizzled out.
“Sergio Aguero has worn 16 before taking the number ten vacated by Edin Dzeko, while Carlos Tevez indulged his penchant for the number 32.
“The last City player to wear number nine was Nolito, and his possession meant that it was not an option for Jesus when he arrived from Palmeiras in January 2017.”
