Pep Guardiola is targeting as many as eight signings for Manchester City in the transfer window, club sources have told ESPN FC.
Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad this summer and has prioritised the signings of Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte and Everton's John Stones to reshape City's defence.
City's new transfer plans could see the club spend over £300 million gross this summer and Stones is expected to cost upwards of £35m, despite his difficulties at Everton lately, with Manchester United and Chelsea also seen to sign the versatile England international. French international Laporte signed a new contract with Bilbao in June that reportedly contains a €50m release clause but he fractured his ankle playing for France under-21s against Scotland last month and that could shelve Guardiola's plans.
Despite City's high number of purchases last year -- they spent over £100 million on Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne alone -- the Catalan coach still feels the first-team needs almost a total renewal.
Indeed, Guardiola wants to bring in a goalkeeper, two centre-backs, two full-backs, a central midfielder, a quick winger and a back-up striker for Sergio Aguero.
Sources told ESPN FC that Guardiola already has specific names for some of those positions in mind, with Laporte and Stones, both 21, seen as ideal to offer the type of ball-playing defence and focus on the future the manager wants.
In goal, contact has already been made with representatives of Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who was forced to deny that he had already signed for the club after revealing his unhappiness at sharing the No. 1 slot with Claudio Bravio. And, although Guardiola wants to bring in new full-backs too, he does not see those positions as important as other areas.
City have reportedly struck a deal in principle with Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan for the midfield position, despite his representatives denying the claims. City will also offload Wilfried Bony up front, but no decision has yet been made on an alternative back-up striker to Aguero.