Romelu Lukaku could be heading back to Manchester with CITY as part of Pep Guardiola ‘£200m overhaul

Manchester City will reportedly invest £200million in improving their squad in several areas at the end of the season – with Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku a target.

Pep Guardiola‘s squad are firmly in the title race this season and lie four points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand ahead of their match with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

But City face several long-term squad dilemmas in areas such as defence and up front with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and Eric Garcia able to leave the Etihad Stadium for free this summer.

Pep Guardiola is set to be given £200m to spend on his Man City squad this year, say reports

Pep Guardiola is set to be given £200m to spend on his Man City squad this year, say reports

Romelu Lukaku has been named as a potential Sergio Aguero replacement which would see the Belgian return to Manchester

Erling Haaland could also join City with the Dortmund man having links to the club through his father

Romelu Lukaku (left) and Erling Haaland (right) have been named as potential transfer targets

And according to The Telegraph, Guardiola and his side will target a new striker, left back and a defensive midfielder in their mega-money overhaul of their squad.

One area of concern is a long-term replacement for striker Sergio Aguero who has struggled with injury problems since the start of the season.

The Argentinian striker is City’s all-time record goalscorer but the 32-year-old striker’s contract expires in six months with Aguero yet to make a decision on his future. 

One transfer area is set to be a long-term successor to Sergio Aguero - who could leave in July

One transfer area is set to be a long-term successor to Sergio Aguero – who could leave in July

But City will reportedly target a new striker even if Aguero ends up staying at the Etihad beyond this summer. 

The same report claims Inter Milan’s Lukaku, Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and Benfica forward Darwin Nunez have been targeted as long-term successors to Aguero.

An Etihad move for Lukaku would see the Belgian striker return to Manchester, having spent two seasons at city rivals United between 2017 and 2019.  

The 27-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Everton in a £90m move in the summer of 2017 but struggled for minutes under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer despite netting 42 goals in 96 appearances in all competitions. 

Benfica striker Darwin Nunez is also a potential striker option for Guardiola's side this summer

Benfica striker Darwin Nunez is also a potential striker option for Guardiola’s side this summer

Lukaku was then moved on to Italian giants Inter Milan in the summer of 2019 for a £72m transfer, with the forward scoring 51 goals in 73 matches for the Nerazzurri.  

Meanwhile, midfielder Fernandinho – who has made over 300 appearances for City since his arrival in 2013 – could also leave in the same circumstances as Aguero this summer with City targeting a long-term successor in the midfield department. 

City also have no stand-out option at left back due to Benjamin Mendy’s fitness problems. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Nathan Ake have been shoehorned into the role but are not deemed as long-term options in the position. 

City may buy a Fernandinho (left) replacement and an improvement on Benjamin Mendy (right)

City may buy a Fernandinho (left) replacement and an improvement on Benjamin Mendy (right)

Last November, City were boosted by manager Guardiola’s decision to extend his contract by two years to 2023 after growing speculation into his future. 

The Spanish manager has won two Premier League titles since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, along with three Carabao Cup titles and the 2019 FA Cup. 

City have also been linked with a move for Barcelona captain and global superstar Lionel Messi over the past six months, with the Argentinian’s Nou Camp contract expiring this year.

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