The Pep revolution continues
Since Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City – before, even – he has not settled for anything less than signing exactly who he wants in the transfer window.
This was best seen in the summer of 2017, when the club splashed out approximately £130 million on three full-backs. Having been stuck with Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov for his first season in charge – good players but far past their best – he felt it was was necessary to ship them all out and bring in younger, more athletic replacements.
And it worked. Kyle Walker, Danilo, and Benjamin Mendy to a lesser extent have all shown their worth in sky blue, helping City to regain the league title last season.
And now he is keen to repeat the cycle, bringing in two more young full-backs for the long-term. As Mendy continues to battle persistent injury problems, and Danilo’s resale value depreciates, Guardiola has identified two young English talents whom he wants to bring to the Etihad: Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Ben Chilwell, according to the Mirror.
Wan-Bissaka has been hugely impressive for Crystal Palace this season after being chucked in the deep end last term and proving he can indeed swim. The striker turned right-back is statistically the best tackler in Europe, while also providing pace up and down the flanks. He is a rough diamond who Pep could nurture into one of the best all round right-backs in the world.
Chilwell, meanwhile, has made the starting left-back spot at Leicester City his own, earning himself an international call-up in the process. He was particularly impressive during England’s 3-2 win over Spain in the Uefa Nations League last autumn.
As City continue to play Fabian Delph out of position, with Mendy struggling for fitness, Chilwell seems like the perfect solution. He’s homegrown, young, and has all the tools to be a Guardiola player.
City would likely have to fork out at least £80 million to prise the pair away from their respective clubs, but as I mentioned, that’s never stopped them in the past.
