Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Pep Guardiola's first task as Manchester City manager will be to save the man who lured him to the Etihad.

City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain may have finally landed boss Guardiola , the coach who the club’s Abu Dhabi owners have coveted for more than four years, but the 51-year-old now faces a make-or-break season of his own after blowing almost £400million in the transfer market.

Begiristain’s recruitment record since he arrived in Manchester in October 2012 has been wretched.

Only Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho have given value for money on a consistent basis.

Other big-money ­signings, like Raheem Sterling, Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony, Nicolas Otamendi, Stevan Jovetic and Fabian Delph, flopped badly.

(Image: Getty)

It means the backbone of the team Guardiola is likely to send out to face Sunderland in his first Premier League game next month – Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Joe Hart and Samir Nasri – were already at the club when Begiristain arrived.

Sunday Mirror Sport ­understands the ­Spaniard’s poor record in the transfer market became such a cause for concern that the club even contemplated bringing in another recruitment specialist to work alongside him.

(Image: Getty)

Michael Reschke, the Bayern Munich technical director who identified players for Guardiola during his time in Germany, was one name mentioned.

A decision was made not to change the status quo – but it is clear Begiristain has no excuses now that he is working with Guardiola again.

City have now spent just under £375m on players during Begiristain’s tenure, with less than £100m raised in sales during that time.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Alvaro Negredo and Jovetic were sold at a loss and there was a failure to recoup decent fees for Carlos Tevez, Mario ­Balotelli, Edin Dzeko, Javi Garcia and Matija Nastasic.

And, despite bringing in ­Guardiola, City’s fans have so far been underwhelmed by the latest arrivals.

Germany midfelder Ilkay Gundogan was signed from Borussia Dortmund for £20m but will not be ­available until September as he recovers from a knee injury.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Another £13.8m was spent on 29-year-old Spanish winger Nolito, while Ukrainian ­teenager Oleksandr Zinchenko is expected to be sent out on loan after arriving from Russian club Ufa for £1.7m.

City will now press on with plans to land Everton’s £50m-rated defender John Stones and Schalke winger Leroy Sane, who has a £40m valuation.

Sane, 20, has been told City need an answer soon so ­Guardiola can finalise his squad.

(Image: Getty)

But when Begiristain gave Aymeric Laporte a similar ultimatum earlier in the summer, his gamble backfired — the 22-year-old French defender opted to sign a new deal with Athletic Bilbao.

Despite claims to the contrary, missing out on Laporte was a huge blow.

And while Begiristain is now looking at Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci, spending almost £50m on a player who is already 29 smacks of desperation.