Major change at Manchester City as new director begins work ahead of transfer window rebuild | OneFootball

Manchester City have welcomed Hugo Viana into the City Football Academy offices on a full-time basis this week, reports have confirmed.

It is a significant moment in the work going on behind-the-scenes at the Etihad Stadium to get Pep Guardiola’s playing squad back to its very strongest following a hugely underwhelming and challenging campaign for those within the club.

After opting not to significantly refresh the side during the last summer transfer window, performances have taken a serious hit this season alongside a multitude of injury and fitness problems to crucial names along the way.

Given the magnitude of the difficulties at hand, Manchester City started work on a significant squad refresh in the middle of the season with four new arrivals coming into Guardiola’s first-team squad in a stark redirection from usually quiet winter markets at the club.

And with an understanding in various quarters that incoming sporting director Hugo Viana was partially involved in market business throughout January, the Portuguese official has taken things further this week by formally starting work with the club.

That is according to the information of MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, who confirms that Viana has officially started work at Manchester City as of Monday, with his start date seemingly brought forward having originally agreed to start a new role at the Etihad Stadium in the summer.

The development comes after Viana was present at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon for a dull 0-0 draw between Manchester United and Manchester City, sitting alongside the Premier League champions’ contingent in the directors’ box.

Current Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain is remaining in situ until after the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, according to the same report, working alongside Hugo Viana as the club aims for a smooth transition.

As for the work being undertaken ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window, MailSport further report that City are in talks over the futures of a number of Pep Guardiola’s squad as they look to ascertain the extent of a rebuild.

One key area of Pep Guardiola’s squad that is likely to attract most attention from club officials ahead of the summer transfer window is the attacking midfield role, after it was confirmed last week that Kevin De Bruyne would be leaving the club at the end of the season.

The Belgian’s time at the Etihad Stadium will come to a natural conclusion upon the expiry of his Manchester City contract, and officials will no doubt be placing extra emphasis on sourcing a suitable replacement to a player so integral to their success in the last decade.

Among the options likely to be considered are Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, despite competition expected from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, while the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Morgan Rogers closer to home could yet come into the club’s thinking.