There is a huge overhaul expected at Manchester City before next season starts and quite clearly the department, which is most likely to experience a big exodus is their defence. Pep Guardiola has found it difficult to superimpose his tactical blueprint on City’s backline that clearly worked quite well at Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
And it seems that the first player to leave Etihad will be their right-back Bacary Sagna. The French international has found his first team chances drying up at City and given his age (34), it is now difficult to adapt to a new style of play, which requires high work rate. According to reports, the former Arsenal player has a likely destination at London club West Ham United. Sagna has managed just 15 league appearances this season and he would like to end his career in a better way.
West Ham will definitely grab the opportunity with both hands as Slaven Bilic seeks to find a way in repairing the damage his last summer shopping did to the club. Cheikhou Kouyate is the current regular right-back to the side and he is not even a natural full-back. Bilic’s plan to rely on Alvaro Arbeloa failed terribly and young Sam Byram’s further fluttering in that position had made things worse for the club, hence the catastrophic first half of the season.
Despite bringing in competent players like Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass last winter, the full back’s position is yet to be filled in. And now it seems like Bilic might land the full-back from Manchester City for a free transfer as his deal with the club expires in the summer and although the manager has the option to offer the Frenchman an extension to his contract, he is still said to be assessing his options.
Since moving to City in 2014 after winning the FA Cup with the Gunners, Sagna has played 83 times for the Manchester club in all competitions. He will surely be a first-choice at the London Stadium given his competition for that position and could be a level-up for the Hammers at the back.
A product of FC Sens, Sagna came up through the ranks of French second-tier side AJ Auxerre. It was Arsene Wenger who picked him up in 2007 and he has been impressive in Premier League since day one. He has 265 games under his belt in the English top flight football and West Ham might have an enormously experienced player in him. However, Sagna earns £60,000-a-week currently, something which is bound to take a hit if he moves out.
