Thinking of realistic targets, ie. not the best Barca/Real/Bayern/PSG players, at a good age (ages below are at start of next season), with some versatility and without having to fork out fantasy money. I'd be looking to 'raid' 2 players each from Juve and Dortmund in addition to Stones and the return of Denayer
What is needed?
Defense: Another CB and quick technical fullbacks
Midfield: More ballplayers - Pep loves them and we don't have m/any. Multiple CMs are needed.
Attack: If your CM 3 is tasked with dominating the ball, your front 3 all need a high goalthreat. Kun and KDB have that. Sterling is still a WIP and will still play a large roll but it's clear to me we need a RW. We also need quality Aguero cover - something difficult to do unless you find someone with the versatility to play both RW and ST. I'd love Isco at City but he's no ST.
RB/CB:
(
Jason Denayer)
Quick and has shown he has excellent technical ability.
Loan Return
Age: 21
LB:
Alex Sandro,
Attack-minded fullback
Age 25
Guesstimate Price: £25m
CB/DM:
John Stones
Ball playing CB capable of being moulded to cover DM
Age: 22
Guesstimate Price: £40-50m (could depend upon him handing in a transfer request)
DM/CM:
Julien Weigl
The Busquets/Alonso analogue
Age: 20
Guesstimate Price: £22m (quoted price 2 months ago)
CM/DM:
Iklay Gundogan
The Xavi/Alcantara analogue
Age: 25
Guesstimate Price: £20-25m (12 months remaining on current contract in summer)
RW/ST:
Paulo Dybala
Goalscoring wideman and perfect Aguero cover
Age: 22
Guesstimate Price: over £40m (They paid €32m + €8m in add-ons so we'd be looking at quite a bit more)
Eg. team:
Taking for granted Kompany is injured:
Hart
--Denayer---Stones--Otamendi---Sandro
Weigl
------Silva-----Gundogan-
---Dybala----Aguero---De Bruyne
Subs: Caballero, Zabaleta, Clichy, Fernandinho, Nasri, Sterling, Iheanacho
In the event Kompany, Weigl, Gundogan, Silva, and Aguero are injured
Hart
-Zabaleta--Denayer--Otamendi---Sandro
Stones
-------Nasri----Fernandinho
De Bruyne---Dybala----Sterling
Subs: Caballero, Sagna, Clichy, A. Garcia, Delph, EDS AM, Iheanacho,
Sold:
Demichelis
Mangala
Kolarov
Fernando
Toure
Navas
Bony
Just my 2 pence...