Pep Guardiola could soon learn answer to Cole Palmer question at Man City
Manchester City are closing in on making an exciting and much-needed signing.
A £55.5m fee has been agreed with Rennes for the transfer of Jeremy Doku and if everything goes to plan the winger is expected to be signed in time to feature in the weekend's clash with Sheffield United.
City were in fairly desperate need of some new recruits after starting the season with a minor injury crisis. Kevin De Bruyne is out for the rest of the year, John Stones for a few weeks yet and Bernardo Silva was also sidelined for Saturday's win over Newcastle. With Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte unavailable as they edge towards an exit, Pep Guardiola was low on options for the match.
It's owed to the immense quality of the squad he has assembled that despite the upheaval his squad put in their best performance for quite some time, which should have resulted in a bigger win than 1-0. But the bench was worrying.
Jeremy Doku expected to hand City immediate boost after transfer
The seven substitutes started only 38 games last season between them, and 22 of those came from Nathan Ake. 10 came from Rico Lewis, and 16 collectively came in the games after City had won the Premier League. Oscar Bobb and Cole Palmer weren't with the first team and Kalvin Phillips remains unfancied.
It was obvious reinforcements were needed and Guardiola came close to admitting as much after the match: "We will need everyone with this schedule and calendar. Over the next one or two [weeks] the club have to take some important decisions with the squad. We didn’t expect with Kevin and we didn’t expect with Riyad to leave but I have a feeling we’ve spoken about that.
"We are who we are. A lot of young players on the bench and that’s the difference. Okay we are a
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