Home » Three ways Man City could line up if they complete Josko Gvardiol transfer

Home » Three ways Man City could line up if they complete Josko Gvardiol transfer

Manchester City • Premier League
Three ways Man City could line up if they complete Josko Gvardiol transfer
7 hours agoAdd Commentby bazesport

Manchester City have made RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol their top target in the summer transfer window.

Manchester City have turned all their focus to signing Josko Gvardiol.

After at one point looking as though the transfer window would be hectic with plenty of departures and newcomers, it’s transpired to be another quiet affair after all. Ilkay Gundogan departed for Barcelona upon the expiration of his contract and Mateo Kovacic was signed in his place but since then there has been very little activity aside from the odd sale of a promising youngster.

It threatened to burst into life when City made a move for Declan Rice and lodged a £95million bid to West Ham but that was swiftly rejected. Arsenal then upped their own offer to £105million and the Blues walked away as suddenly as they had turned their interest concrete.

With Jude Bellingham also accounted for, no possible midfield targets particularly stand out and with no further departures forcing City into evasive action, their attention has instead turned to Gvardiol. Pep Guardiola wants to bolster his defensive options, with Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte still likely to leave, and the RB Leipzig man has been made the top target.

The Bundesliga side want £85m for Gvardiol plus additional performance-related bonuses and though City are not yet ready to meet that valuation all parties still expect a deal can be done. The 21-year-old giant will help bring the age of the defence down, future-proofing it for years to come, and should form a formidable partnership with Ruben Dias.

If you’re spending so much on a centre-back then that’s where you’re going to play him, there will be no surprises in Gvardiol’s positioning, but his arrival will give Guardiola some interesting dilemmas on how he lines up the rest of his back line.

The Blues boss has grown fond of playing four centre-backs in his defence in 2023, which is a massive departure from the man who once spent £130million on full-backs in one summer. Even when Kyle Walker did play in the latter stages of last season, he was more of a right-sided centre-back than a traditional full-back.

Gvardiol could play at the heart of City’s defence
If that system remains in place in the new season, then one of the four regular starters in the treble triumph will miss out to accommodate Gvardiol in the middle. Given the incredible form John Stones has been in this year, it would be hard to see him dropped but he will likely have to continue his forrays in the midfield from right-back rather than the middle, just as he did in his Player of the Match performance in the Champions League final.

HBAgency
That would leave Nathan Ake and Manuel Akani to fight it out for a spot at left-back. Ake has the edge given he is actually left-footed but Akanji surpassed all expectations in his debut campaign and performed well in every defensive position.

The Croatian could play as a left-sided centre-back
But just as Guardiola changed his system completely in the middle of last season, there’s nothing saying he could revert back to playing with typical full-backs at some point next year. Kyle Walker and Cancelo are still at the club for now despite being linked with exits and both have proven exceptional in recent years. Rico Lewis is also pushing for a place after bursting on the scene last season.

Gvardiol and Dias could just as easily form a partnership in a typical back four where they stay as a central combo as they could in a defence in which they are constantly spreading wide to go from a four to a three.

Gvardiol could also find himself playing at left-back for City
Finally, if push really did come to shove, Gvardiol himself could even fill in at left-back if required. Should he sign, he will be playing on the left of the centre-backs thanks to his powerful stronger foot but he also has experience of playing out wide.

The Croatian colossus broke into the Leipzig starting XI at left-back and played seven times there, even grabbing an assist, and also played his first five games for his country there before it was realised he was much better in the middle. He hasn’t gone back to the left since but his ability and willingness to do so would be useful to a manager who prizes versatility in his players.

It’s clear why Guardiola wants Gvardiol as though just a centre-back with sky-high potential, he will offer yet more tactical flexibility.

HBAgency
Manchester City
Riyad Mahrez exit would give one Man City player what he has been waiting for DONE DEAL: Liverpool Complete 3rd Signing Of The Season
You may also like

Manchester City
“Pep Guardiola’s Defensive Masterstroke:…

Manchester City
“Breaking: Manchester City Stuns Football World…

Manchester City
Neymar Makes History: Becomes Manchester City’s…

Manchester City
“Pep Guardiola’s Dream Come True: Neymar…

Liverpool • Manchester City • Premier League
Liverpool rivals consider Neymar move as Pep Guardiola…

Liverpool • Manchester City
Liverpool rivals consider Neymar move as Pep Guardiola…
About the author

bazesport
View all posts
Leave a Comment
Comment

Name *
Email *
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search
Search
Recent Posts
“Liverpool’s Prodigal Son: Sadio Mané Returns to Anfield in Surprise Transfer!”
“Pep Guardiola’s Defensive Masterstroke: Gvardiol Joins Manchester City in Surprise Move!”
“Breaking: Manchester City Stuns Football World with Record Transfer of Joško Gvardiol!”
Neymar Makes History: Becomes Manchester City’s Most Expensive Signing Ever!
“Pep Guardiola’s Dream Come True: Neymar Joins Manchester City in Record-Breaking Deal!”
Recent Comments
Johane Bhandi on Done Deal Rodrigo Riquelme to Man City here we go deal finalized
Faizel Crown on What Kylian Mbappe has said about Liverpool transfer as FIFA agent claims Reds planning £214m bid
Liverpool’s new signing Alexis Mac Allister reveals Shocking reason why he chose shirt number 10 instead of 8 – bazesport on Done Deal : The Moment Liverpool complete the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton
Liverpool reportedly able to offer Alexis Mac Allister dream shirt number – bazesport on Liverpool expected to complete triple deal next month
Aspas on Kylian Mbappe to Liverpool might be possible this summer “Negotiation on going”
Archives
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
Categories
Arsenal
Barcelona
Champions league
Chelsea
Europa league
FIFA
Fulham
João Amby
Juventus
Leeds football club
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Messi
Napoli
Newcastle
Premier League
Psg
Psv
Real Madrid
Tottenham
Uncategorized
Copyright © 2023. Created by Zion Joe. All Right Reserved

Contact UsAbout UsPrivacy Policy

Top of their list’: Romano says Man City have already lined up their perfect replacement for Kyle Walker

Manchester City have reportedly identified Benjamin Pavard as their ideal replacement for Kyle Walker.

Earlier today, it was claimed that the Englishman has verbally agreed to join Bayern Munich this summer.

With the 33-year-old’s departure now looking to be a possibility, some fresh details have emerged regarding one player that the Citizens have on their radar as being an potential replacement for Walker.

In a recent Twitter post, Fabrizio Romano had this to say on the situation.

He said: “EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City have now Benjamin Pavard on top of their list as new right back. #MCFC.

“Pavard is Man City’s priority in case Kyle Walker will join Bayern, deal advanced on player side but not completed yet. Bayern and City will discuss about Walker and Pavard.”

After making 162 appearances for the German club across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and delivering 12 assists along the way, it was reported last month that Bayern are willing to sell the 27-year-old this summer for a fee of €30m (£25m).

Last season saw the Frenchman feature in 30 Bundesliga games for Thomas Tuchel’s side and rack up the second-highest number of clearances (83) and progressive passes (202) at the club, as well as having the second-highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (114) in the squad.

Given the experience he has of playing at a top club like Bayern and the fairly low transfer fee it could take to secure his signature, this could be a great move for City to focus on, especially since it would give them a replacement for Walker.

Moving forward, we feel that it would make sense for the Manchester club to do all they can to secure a deal for Pavard so they don’t have to worry about dealing with Walker’s potential departure and having to find a suitable replacement for him before the season starts.

Man City hero ‘pushing’ for exit amid Kylian Mbappe ‘request’ and more transfer rumours
The Manchester City star could link up with his old Monaco teammate at the Parc des Princes this summer, reports claim.

Mbappe has reportedly made his feelings known (Image: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Bernardo Silva is reportedly seeking a Manchester City departure with Paris Saint-Germain a possible destination.

Talks between the player and Barcelona almost led to an Etihad exit last summer before both parties agreed to call off a move. Le 10 Sport claims that the Portugal international is keen to force through a departure this time around, but not to Barcelona.

Not only that, the report claims Kylian Mbappe wants to play with Silva at PSG. The pair enjoyed a fruitful spell together at Monaco, when Campos was sporting director, before joining their respective current employers.

Both parties are now said to be leaning towards a reunion with Silva, who has scored two goals and assisted five more in 20 Premier League appearances this season. Meanwhile, it is claimed that City will target two midfielders, a winger and a full-back this summer.

The Telegraph says Jude Bellingham is one their targets while The Times says Ben Chillwell has been shortlisted as a potential Joao Cancelo replacement if the defender permanently signs for Bayern Munich in the summer following his loan spell.

Man City hero ‘pushing’ for exit amid Kylian Mbappe ‘request’ and more transfer rumours
The Manchester City star could link up with his old Monaco teammate at the Parc des Princes this summer, reports claim.

Mbappe has reportedly made his feelings known (Image: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Bernardo Silva is reportedly seeking a Manchester City departure with Paris Saint-Germain a possible destination.

Talks between the player and Barcelona almost led to an Etihad exit last summer before both parties agreed to call off a move. Le 10 Sport claims that the Portugal international is keen to force through a departure this time around, but not to Barcelona.

Not only that, the report claims Kylian Mbappe wants to play with Silva at PSG. The pair enjoyed a fruitful spell together at Monaco, when Campos was sporting director, before joining their respective current employers.

Both parties are now said to be leaning towards a reunion with Silva, who has scored two goals and assisted five more in 20 Premier League appearances this season. Meanwhile, it is claimed that City will target two midfielders, a winger and a full-back this summer.

The Telegraph says Jude Bellingham is one their targets while The Times says Ben Chillwell has been shortlisted as a potential Joao Cancelo replacement if the defender permanently signs for Bayern Munich in the summer following his loan spell.