By JACK GAUGHAN, NORTH WEST SPORTS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
Phil Foden admitted Manchester City needed their £300million squad overhaul as Pep Guardiola oversees a changing of the guard.
City have signed 10 players across the summer and January windows, with midfielders Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders the most eye-catching recent arrivals.
Foden returned to form during the Club World Cup, scoring a stunning goal in defeat by Al Hilal, and wants to spearhead City’s resurgence after a disappointing season in which they finished 13 points adrift of Liverpool.
Veterans like Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne left at the end of the season and the likes of Foden will be expected to take on further responsibility.
‘It always gets to a time when any club needs to add new players and freshen things up,’ Foden said.
‘And we have done that in this transfer window – that can only be good for us as the players we have brought in are very high level and fit right into the team.
Phil Foden has admitted that Manchester City needed a squad refresh to compete with Premier League winners Liverpool
Pep Guardiola has overhauled his ranks following the departure of a number of key players
The Manchester side have recruited heavily in January and over the summer, bringing in big signings such as Rayan Cherki
‘They give us something we need a little bit more of so we are here to help and we have got a very good squad now. I think everyone wants to make up for last season.’
Foden added: ‘I am not here to replicate what Kev did because we all know how good he was and what he did for the club. It is about trying my best, getting to the level where I won player of the year, I want to get back to that.’
One winter signing, Vitor Reis, is heading for Girona on a season-long loan and City will sanction other departures before the end of August.
But Guardiola had 26 players training on Tuesday – with three others injured – before they go to Palermo for Saturday’s friendly.
Rodri has returned to light training after picking up a groin issue on an uneven pitch in Orlando during the Club World Cup, with City hopeful the central midfielder will prove his fitness before the curtain raiser at Wolves on August 16.
‘Obviously it is going to take him a bit of a while to get back to his full fitness and sharpness because it is such a long injury but we all know what Rodri can do,’ Foden said.
‘He’s unstoppable. Playing alongside him is unbelievable. He just makes you feel secure. He doesn’t lose the ball and he does everything.’
