Pep Guardiola’s search for more defensive options continues after Holger Badstuber signs with Schalke.
Manchester City target Holger Badstuber moves just out of reach for Pep Guardiola.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the Bayern Munich center back chose to go on loan to fellow Bundesliga rival Schalke instead of trying new pastures at City in the Premier League.
This sucks as the 27-year-old is versatile, doubling as a left back on top of playing central defense. City groans for players who can strengthen both defensive areas.
Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti seemed receptive about letting Badstuber go on loan too. He said, “I said if he decided to leave because he wanted to play we can deal with it for six months.”
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“We can speak about this with him. There is no chance he will be sold.
“The idea of the club is to renew the contract. If he wants to go to play it will be to go on loan.”
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Admittedly, it’s getting frustrating seeing Guardiola shake down his old stomping grounds, Bayern and Barcelona, and come up with nothing. I get he wants familiar players who already are accustomed to his tactics and or coaching style. But apparently they don’t share the sentiment, Badstuber being the latest example.
City is adamant that action in January window to improve City is unlikely, but City must improve if the club wants to get back in the title race. Defense is an area of priority. Various combinations of Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Aleksandar Kolarov, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones have underwhelmed. Vincent Kompany doesn’t look like he can step on a pitch without shattering. Guardiola doesn’t look like he wants to give some youngsters such as Tosin Adarabioyo or Angelino a chance to prove themselves either.
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So that leaves using City’s massive war chest to fix things. Thus far, with the exception of Gabriel Jesus, who was already pretty much a done-deal, the club has uncharacteristically not spent it.