Manchester City Transfer Rumour Round Up: The Defenders
By David Crook
Considering Manchester City’s defensive problems arising through injury we seem to be linked with relatively few defenders in the Summer Transfer Window.
Manchester City are in need of some defensive reinforcements. Club Captain Vincent Kompany is out of contract this summer and although he is likely to sign a 12 month renewal, he will probably have a reduced playing time. The ongoing injury problems with both Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph have seen us spend a second season without an experienced and designated left back.
Let us look at the players we are most frequently being linked with, but first let us discuss Matthias De Ligt who is probably the hottest defensive property in Europe. A lot of reports suggest he will sign for Barcelona alongside his friend Frenkie De Jong. So we will not discuss De Ligt and assign him to the group of players we have been linked to but missed out upon.
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Ben Chilwell
Chilwell is the first name on our list. Whether this is because he is the only noteworthy current English left back or he is really of interest is not clear. Last Christmas he seemed to be linked to us and agitating for a move as Leicester were in the doldrums. The arrival of Rodgers as the manager of Leicester has changed some of that.
Chilwell would seem to be the kind of left back we would need but the premium price he would likely cost may make such a move unlikely. I think City may still view Mendy as the main option so are most likely to add defensive cover rather than a first choice left back. The performances of Zinchenko have been excellent and i still believe he presents as a serious option.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Crystal Palace right back has had a great season so far and looks to be an exciting prospect. With continued good coaching he could continue his development and easily become a very important player for a big team. Palace will be in no hurry to sell and are unlikely to cash in on their prime assets this summer if it can be avoided. The Club has recently been put up for sale by their American Owners so depleting the squad would appear unlikely.
This is another player who would command a hefty transfer price which I think will probably make this deal less likely. He will move to a Club where he immediately becomes the first choice right back rather than undertaking a steadier development role. The price alone will dictate that. Accordingly I believe he is more likely to go to a Club like Manchester United if he moves at all this Summer.
Junior Firpo
Of the players listed here the most likely signing would be Firpo. He will be available at a cheaper price. As a 22 year old left back he plays for Real Betis in Spain and can operate as a left back, left midfielder or central defender. This is the kind of versatility which Guardiola tends to value.
He has played 25 games so far this season in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League, scoring 3 goals and assisting a further 3. Firpo is most likely to accept a squad role so I could see how he could fit in alongside other defensive options.
Man City Transfer Rumours: Midfielders. dark. Next
Whilst we have some excellent youth players such as Phillippe Sandler and Eric Garcia who have played first team football in the season, neither are probably ready to step up into the first team. I think both should be looking to gain more first team action by looking for loan moves this summer. What this means is that we are unlikely to find defensive replacements from within and will most likely be looking for purchases.