Five players that Pep Guardiola should target to ensure Manchester City are at the top next season

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Pep Guardiola’s debut season at Manchester City ended in underwhelming fashion after falling short in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League and he’ll want to avoid a repeat next year.

Guardiola has wasted no time in getting to work this summer, already securing the £43 million signing of Monaco’s Bernardo Silva with Benfica’s Ederson Moraes also seemingly on the brink of a move.

Yet with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the Spaniard has been given the green light to spend £300 million to improve the squad, this may just be the start of a summer spree at the Etihad.

The Boot Room takes a look at five men that could get Pep Guardiola’s side challenging next season…

Benjamin Mendy – Monaco

The biggest transfer news that has been gathering momentum over the past week is the potential movement of Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy, with The Sun reporting that a deal has been completed.

The 22-year-old defender has risen to prominence during a strong Monaco season – both domestically and in Europe – and it is believed that Manchester City have sealed a £39.8 million deal.

With Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta all released in recent weeks Guardiola has made bringing youth into his defence a priority, and Mendy ticks all of the boxes.

Potent and powerful when driving forward from left-back, the French international has also developed well in defence this season and has built a reputation for being strong in the challenge.