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Pep Guardiola 'to centre Manchester City rebuild around Kalidou Koulibaly'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 14 July 2020

Guardiola 'to centre Man City rebuild around Koulibaly'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly plans to build his summer squad overhaul around Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who is also wanted by Man United.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly outlined plans to centre a summer rebuild of his squad around Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly.

A new central defender is understood to be City's top target for the upcoming window after struggling in that area of the field this season, with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones both missing significant chunks of the campaign through injury and Fernandinho regularly having to fill in.

Guardiola is on the look-out for a long-term replacement for Vincent Kompany, who left last summer, and The Telegraph reports that he has identified Koulibaly as his number one choice.

The 29-year-old Senegal international has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League in recent windows, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea among the clubs thought to be monitoring his situation.

Man City are keen to steal a march on their rivals, though, and have accelerated their plans for a summer rebuild after successfully appealing against their two-year European ban.

The former champions could reportedly bring in as many as five players as part of the overhaul, but a new centre-back, left-back and replacement winger for Leroy Sane are thought to be Guardiola's priorities.