Manchester City targets Valencia’s Jose Gaya to address full back woes
Outside of Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, Pep Guardiola apparently wants another new full back for the Manchester City backline; this one doesn’t come cheaply either.
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According to the Sun, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is pursuing another full back on top of the rumors concerning the club’s attempt to wedge itself between Hector Bellerin and Arsenal.
Like Bellerin, the new target, Jose Gaya, is expensive. Valencia values their prized left back at approximately £45 million. Bellerin is estimated to be worth £40 million. If City should decide to buy the two in the upcoming January transfer window, the front office would likely spend close to £100 million. Not to mention, Guardiola is sniffing around Benfica’s Alex Grimaldo, who could cost £60 million.
It’s clear Guardiola intends to land at least one if not two full backs to bolster a back line that’s beginning to show really its age. This purchase would, of course, be added to the record-breaking fee of £47.5 million for the recently secured John Stones.
This is nothing to say about the other high price targets on Pep’s post-Christmas shopping list. Neither would the signatures of Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci or Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang be at a bargain.
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Sheikh Mansour has deep pockets. Apparently, he’s willing to allot Guardiola £150 million war chest upon which with to binge. But still, if imported, these players better be worth it.
The 21-year-old Gaya might be. Speculation aside, there’s no guarantee he will easily adjust to the physicality of the Premier League. Though not a graduate of Barcelona’s youth system like Bellerin and Grimaldo are, he is definitely in the mold of Guardiola outside defenders — wing backs such as Jordi Alba who boast blistering pace as they push forward into the attacking third.
So Gaya might not be the same make as the vaunted Bellerin, but he is of the same model. And right now, he’s another high-priced, speedy sports convertible Guardiola wants to joyride.