Should City target two Chelsea players to improve squad depth

Christian Pulisic has been inconsistent, to say the least, but you could also say his selection has also been inconsistent.

There are strong rumours that the USMNT captain wants regular football and to remain in the Champions League prior to the World Cup in November. Now, he will definitely get one wish should he join City, however, unlikely to get first team action.

He certainly has the qualities to compete with Riyad Mahrez, who has been used sparingly so far with Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva preferred on the right in the West Ham and Newcastle games.

The latter of those two players are more preferred in different roles with Foden on the left and Bernardo more centrally, with Cole Palmer currently being used as back up to Mahrez, while also fitting in advanced midfield positions himself.

Whether Palmer’s development will be hampered by the signing will depend on what position Guardiola prefers the youngster in.

Pulisic has been attracting strong interest from Newcastle, and without any European competitions, City moving on any interest may see a move to the PL Champions materialise.

Another player that could fulfil that back-up role quite well is Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has been frozen out by Tuchel in the past 12 months with the English international’s career faltering ever since he sustained a serious Achilles injury.

However, he is nearing a move to Bayer Leverkusen on loan and the player is unlikely to going to be any better than Palmer as a back-up player.

Who knows whether any business will be done come 1 September but any negotiations will likely prove difficult for Txiki Begiristain and co following Chelsea’s failed pursuit of Nathan Ake, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.