Hugo Viana has plenty of tough decisions to make with the Manchester City squad this summer and there are niggling questions over January business
Hugo Viana
Hugo Viana(Image: Manchester City)
Hugo Viana has not had to wait long to learn how tough life is at the top. Being in charge of recruitment is a difficult gig regardless, but the full glare of a judging public is firmly fixed on him now he has succeeded Txiki Begiristain at Manchester City.
Viana is only in the chair because he did an excellent job rebuilding Sporting into a side capable of winning titles and spanking City 4-1 in the Champions League last season, so he is used to both a pressured environment and success.
Not for the first time since accepting the position back before Pep Guardiola's squad fell away so spectacularly last season, he must have the feeling that this is not an easy role.
Brought in to give difficult truths about the state of the squad, there are many tough decisions that still need to be made this summer to trim a squad that is significantly too big for Guardiola's liking.
Many of those who would be seen as most at risk of being cut have publicly pledged their desire to stay, meaning they will have to be moved on against their wishes if the axe does swing their way.
And with so much uncertainty in the air, doubts have even begun to swirl about the January buys that were supposed to be the start of the rebuild under Viana. Omar Marmoush can be said to be the only one out of five signings whose place in the squad for next season is absolutely assured.
That isn't wholly unexpected given all were said to be long-term purchases - Juma Bah has gone out on loan again and another centre-back may follow - but it feels like Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov have taken at least a few steps back after their initial steps forward in Blue.
Khusanov was voted as the club's best player for February in a month where Gonzalez was compared to Rodri by his manager, yet both barely played in the last two months of the season and that carried on into the Club World Cup.
Gonzalez is expected to stay but it doesn't feel like a ringing endorsement of a £50m signing that he could push for a move after just six months at the club, while £33.5m looks a lot more for Khusanov now than it did when he was looking like a young star in the defence.
As ever, time and patience is needed to assess how good or signings turn out to be. Nevertheless, where Gonzalez, Khusanov and Vitor Reis end up this season will be a handy marker for how good Viana and the club view those January deals as the big rebuild continues.
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