In the summer of 2017, Manchester City was determined to make a significant impact in the transfer market, but they fell short of securing all their targets amid negotiations with Arsenal.
A significant concern for Pep Guardiola during his inaugural season at Manchester City emerged from their encounters with Monaco. Their performance had been inconsistent, failing to mount a proper challenge for the Premier League title against Antonio Conte’s dominant Chelsea squad, but there remained a glimmer of hope for European success, driven by a manager whose worst Champions League finish was a semi-final exit.
City were favorites heading into the second leg of their last-16 encounter in Monaco following an exhilarating 5-3 victory at the Etihad. Their task was straightforward: protect their two-goal lead to progress.
However, in Guardiola’s style, his approach to safeguarding the lead involved dictating the play against Monaco, rather than adopting a more conventional defensive posture. This strategy caused discomfort among members of the City squad, who felt that preserving a two-goal advantage should have prioritized defense.
Ultimately, City failed to either defend or maintain possession, suffering a 3-1 defeat which led to their exit on away goals. This match underscored Guardiola’s conviction that significant changes were essential during the summer of 2017.
Change arrived, significantly aided by Monaco. Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy joined City for nearly £100 million amidst a wave of spending totaling nearly £300 million, with Kylian Mbappe’s transfer being the headline event, much of which contributed to the financial transformation of the Premier League.
City’s overall expenditure exceeded £200 million that summer, with willingness to approach £300 million as the transfer deadline loomed. Throughout the summer, they made clear their interest in bringing Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, intensifying their efforts in the final hours to finalize the deal.
Sanchez’s potential move had implications, prompting one of City’s most promising young talents to seek a change in status. It’s fascinating to consider how Jadon Sancho’s trajectory might have differed if he had remained at the Etihad; instead, he moved to Dortmund for £8 million, leading to a dramatically different career path.
City eventually had a £60 million bid for Sanchez accepted by Arsenal, but only contingent on their ability to sign a replacement. Consequently, they returned to their favorite trading partner that summer and offered Monaco £92 million for Thomas Lemar.
This offer was promptly accepted, initiating further dynamic transfer activity—only for the player to halt proceedings. Lemar had attracted interest from numerous clubs that summer and was keen on a move to Liverpool.
With time running out in the transfer window, City had to concede defeat. Arsenal lacked the opportunity to persuade a hesitant Lemar, forcing City to shelve their Sanchez acquisition plans—for the time being.
Sanchez had only one year remaining on his contract, so City continued to monitor the situation, but he was ultimately snatched up by a desperate and spending United. Sanchez has come to exemplify the waste of talent at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, with his most memorable moment at the club being a signing announcement that is cringeworthy even to recall.
In addition to Sancho indirectly influencing Sanchez’s failed transfer, Raheem Sterling emerged as the key figure from this situation. Guardiola continued to desire a consistent finisher and remained unsure about Sterling, particularly after his glaring miss against Burnley, prompting Mikel Arteta to provide reassurance. Nevertheless, the former Liverpool player turned his form around.
By the time Sterling departed City in 2022, he had accumulated more goals and assists than anyone under Guardiola aside from Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne. Although Erling Haaland is expected to surpass him, Sterling’s tally of 120 goals and 85 assists is still an impressive record for a world-class athlete who could have been replaced had City secured their desired player in 2017.
Things could have unfolded quite differently had Lemar opted for Arsenal on that deadline day in 2017, but both Guardiola and the City supporters are likely relieved that it turned out otherwise given the remarkable success that followed.
