Manchester City transfer targets include Koulibaly, Pau Torres and Ruben Dias after Torres and Ake signings

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Manchester City are looking to significantly re-tool their squad this summer following a failed Premier League title defence and the overturning of their Champions League ban.

After winning their second successive title and fourth in eight seasons by a single point on the final day last season, this year Pep Guardiola's side finished 18 behind champions Liverpool and have only the Carabao Cup to show for their efforts ahead of the Champions League's return in August.

A two-year suspension from Uefa competition had looked likely to adversely impact City's ability to attract top names, though the club's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was successful in July and they now seem set to move quickly in what director of football Txiki Begiristain predicts will be a "strange window".

New central defensive recruits are a key priority amid doubts surrounding the futures of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly currently among the options being considered by Guardiola, who missed out to rivals Manchester United on a deal for Harry Maguire last summer.

    The versatile Nathan Ake has already been signed in a deal worth around £41million, while Villarreal's Pau Torres is another option following a fine campaign in LaLiga. Eric Garcia is expected to leave after telling the club he will not sign a new contract . His current terms expire next summer.

    Portuguese international Ruben Dias of Benfica is also a current defensive target, though has also been linked with Premier League rivals Wolves over recent weeks.

    City could end up signing two centre-backs if both Otamendi and Stones depart, with free agent Jan Vertonghen - who has left Tottenham after eight years - potentially a cut-price option in a window when Guardiola plans to spend big.

    Leicester and England's Ben Chilwell has long been admired at the Etihad as Guardiola also looks to further add to his defence with the signing of a new left-back.

    City still look well-stocked in an attacking sense despite the departure of captain David Silva after 10 years and the impressive form of Phil Foden, but nevertheless the club are eager to bolster their wide options with Valencia's Ferran Torres having sold Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich.

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