MANCHESTER CITY are continuing to improve their squad just weeks after clinching a sensational Treble.
Pep Guardiola‘s men raced away with the Premier League title after overhauling Arsenal, before they beat Manchester United and Inter Milan within seven days to clinch the FA Cup and Champions League.
Manchester City and Arsenal are both trying to sign Declan RiceGetty
Man City have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Mateo Kovacic for £30millionAP
Yet, despite their trio of triumphs, City are refusing to stand still during the summer transfer window.
The departure of Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona has already been resolved with a £30million deal for Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
And they are also being heavily linked with a move for West Ham skipper Declan Rice.
SunSport understands the England international, 24, remains keen on securing a switch to Arsenal.
But Guardiola’s men are attempting to hijack the Gunners target as they prepare to submit an official bid to West Ham.
If Rice and Kovacic were to both end up at the Etihad, they would add to a host of midfield options.
Champions League final goalscorer Rodri would almost certainly remain in the side as he was one of Man City‘s standout players last season.
Kevin de Bruyne is still an integral cog in Guardiola’s wheel.
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And then there is Kalvin Phillips – who barely got a look in during his first year at the club – as well as John Stones who has progressed from centre-back to midfield over the past 12 months.
But Guardiola is not expected to change his 3-2-4-1 formation to get Kovacic and Rice into the side.
Instead, Stones would likely drop back to centre-half alongside Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias – with Manuel Akanji also pushing for a spot.
Rice would sit alongside Rodri at the base of the midfield, with Kovacic and De Bruyne ahead of them as a more attacking duo.
On the flanks there remains a lot of competition, although Jack Grealish now seems to have nailed down the left side.
Bernardo Silva has been the first-choice option on the right, but he is being linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
That could open the door to Riyad Mahrez or, perhaps more likely, Phil Foden.
Erling Haaland, who bagged 52 goals in his first season in England, will continue to lead the line ahead of World Cup winner Julian Alvarez.
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