Did City make a mistake in letting Angus Gunn go?
By James Fudge
Pep Guardiola must have been worried after another one of his players went down in agony in training, an injury that could see the player miss the rest of the season.
Reserve goalkeeper Claudio Bravo sustained a ruptured Achilles injury that could keep the Chilean out of action for the season. It leaves the manager with a problem as City are now short in the goalkeeper department.
After seeing Angus Gunn and Joe Hart depart for new adventures and Arijanet Muric feature for NAC Breda on loan, Manchester City only has two fit ‘keepers for the season. An injury to Ederson could seriously derail out Premier League chances and disrupt the Champions League campaign, with only youngster Daniel Grimshaw available to replace him.
The club has two options to fix the potential problem. One of those options has been highlighted but quickly muted as it is increasingly likely it will not be agreed. An emergency loan is also likely to lead to increased protests from fellow Premier League rivals, especially if that loan is Keylor Navas of Real Madrid.
If the club did apply for a loan to the league, officials would have to look at their goalkeeping depth and decide on whether they deem it as necessary to make that out of the ordinary decision.
The other option is the signing of an out of contract player due to the transfer window shutting prior to the Premier League season. They will struggle to find a high-quality replacement as there is simply none on the market.
The best options are Diego Cavalleri, Oscar Ustari, and Piet Velthuizen, however, the Premier League registration stipulates a certain number of home-grown players, leaving Stuart Taylor or Jake Kean. City will want to increase that number as seven first-team players fit that criteria currently.
With that in mind, you must wonder that selling Angus Gunn to Southampton was a good piece of transfer business. Obviously, hindsight is a wonderful thing and he wouldn’t get a chance behind the two South American ‘keepers.
But, having Gunn as a third choice would allow him to develop under the guidance under of two keepers and push Ederson for number one position next season. His qualities were never questioned as he is rated as a quality ‘keeper and impressed on loan at Norwich City last season.
He went to Southampton for first-team opportunities but has only found himself sitting on the bench to add to his frustration. At only 22, he is likely to get his chance but will have competition from two Premier League standards at the south coast club.
It is with saying that he would solve City’s problem they are currently in as he will easily become the number two and would fit the home-grown rule for Premier League and Champions League squad registrations.
Certainly, a mistake when it comes to not planning for the upcoming season and not contemplating the worst. Hopefully, it will prove that City didn’t drop the ball on this occasion.