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Eden Hazard Reportedly Among Manchester City's 'Big' Summer Targets

Rory Marsden

Chelsea's Eden Hazard is reportedly a "dream target" for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola this summer as the Sky Blues look to add an attacker, a defensive midfielder and a centre-back to their ranks.

According to James Ducker in the Telegraph, the Premier League champions-elect are aware they are unlikely to be able to persuade Chelsea to sell them Hazard, and their alternative attacking target is AS Monaco's Thomas Lemar.

As for midfielders, Ducker said Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl, Shakhtar Donetsk's Fred, Napoli's Jorginho and Nice's Jean Michael Seri—all rated around £40 million—are on City's radar, as is Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Toby Alderweireld. 

City have endured a chastening week amid one of their greatest-ever seasons.

They lost twice to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League, eventually being ousted 5-1 on aggregate at the quarter-final stage.

And they also squandered a 2-0 lead against Manchester United on Saturday and ended up losing 3-2 to delay their coronation as Premier League champions.

Barring a collapse of unprecedented proportions, City will still be crowned champions.

But their last three results have made it clear Guardiola's side, for all their brilliance, are not the finished article.

The Sky Blues will not snag Lemar easily. The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, per Matt Law in the Telegraph.

However, City could well have the edge as English champions, and Guardiola is likely to be a big draw for the Frenchman given how he has transformed the Manchester outfit in just two seasons.

Meanwhile, a new deep-lying midfielder is arguably the most pressing concern for City as a back-up and long-term replacement for the 32-year-old Fernandinho.

Fred, Jorginho, Weigl and Seri all have enormous talent, and all are likely to be available at the right price given that none of them play for elite-level clubs.   

   

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