Harry Maguire on Manchester City radar

There has been no secret made that Manchester City are in the market for another center back. Talk in the summer of Pep trying to bring in Ex Manchester United defender, Jonny Evans, never materialised. For some of the City support, that was a good thing. Other than him being an ex Red, he simply just wasn’t rated that highly.

Now January is here and, alongside the ‘Alexis Sanchez Show’, is a rekindled interest for that defender. Certainly other names banded about have been met with a little more approval than Evans. Although he too has once again been linked.

The likes of Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and Real Sociadad’s Iñigo Martinez certainly would be good additions to a squad. Already they’ve had to rely on Eliaquim Mangala for more games than was comfortable.

But with City fighting on all four fronts and Vincent Kompany getting on and off the treatment table more times than he does the pitch, it is vital we get in a quality defender. At this point, with the failures of Mangala, and other defenders who we’ve had over the years from top European leagues, I think a Premier League experienced defender might be the way to go.

When Harry Maguire was linked recently for £50 million, it certainly turned a few heads. Mine included. Having only just signed for Leicester in the summer on a five-year deal for £12 million it wasn’t clear that Leicester would want to sell.

The now manager, Claude Puel, thinks talk like this about one of his players is a good thing though. Big performances this season has seen him earn an International call up and, possibly, his stock has never been higher.

Next: Defender Search: Umtiti Or Martinez?

At 24 he would certainly be one which could go long into the future and has Sheffield United ties along with our right back, Kyle Walker. He has played in the third and second tiers of English football, as well as the Premier League, so he can certainly handle the more physical English game. Which is where some of the mainland European players fall short.

None of the four players linked, including Evans, would be Cup tied for the FA Cup campaign going forward. However, only two are certain to be eligible for City’s Champions League campaign. Evans and Maguire have not taken part in European football this season and so, would be free to do so for City.

Umtiti, of course, represented Barcelona and so wouldn’t be available while Martinez could possibly. In that respect with Champions League being a priority for the City hierachy, Maguire may prove to be the better purchase, both short and long term.