Report: City to approve Guardiola for £150M spending spree

Pep Guardiola could be set to go on a spending spree in the next transfer window now that the dark cloud hanging over Manchester City has lifted.

The City manager will have around £150 million to improve his squad and bring new recruits to the Etihad Stadium, according to The Guardian's Jamie Jackson.

City were facing a two-year ban from the Champions League after UEFA found the club guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play regulations in February. The punishment carried severe ramifications that would have limited the club's activity in the transfer market.

But plans to rebuild the squad were accelerated Monday after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the side's European ban.

Guardiola is now expected to concentrate on adding defensive reinforcements, with Jackson reporting that the primary recruiting focus will be at the center-back and left-back positions.

Close ties to David Alaba have led to speculation that Guardiola could be set to reunite with the Austrian after they worked together at Bayern Munich. Alaba has yet to extend his Bayern contract beyond next summer and fits the player profile Guardiola is looking to add at left-back.

The former Barcelona manager is also reportedly keeping tabs on Napoli center-back Kalidou Koulibaly, who could cost as much as £75 million. Guardiola may have to look elsewhere, though, as the Senegalese defender recently hinted at the possibility of retiring at the Italian club.

Guardiola is reportedly not ruling out the possibility of adding an attacking player and may look to begin preparing for life without Sergio Aguero, who could leave City when his contract expires in 2021.

Signing a winger might also be on the agenda, as Guardiola could replace Leroy Sane with the €45 million Bayern paid for the German international in June.

City came up short in their title defense this season after Liverpool won the Premier League title with seven matches remaining. The Reds could finish the campaign more than 20 points clear of Guardiola's men.