One of the prime areas that Manchester City will be targeting this summer is goalkeeping. The shot stopper’s role has been under huge crisis in the Etihad Stadium this season with the Citizens conceding more goals (39) than Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. And after a disastrous debut season, Guardiola is desperate to mend it.
According to reports, Manchester City have joined the bandwagon to land Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland along with many top sides in the league. The young English goalkeeper had a solid breakthrough season in 2015 after Chelsea brought in Asmir Begovic from Stoke City. It led Mark Hughes to finally give chance to the talented keeper, where brilliant displays against Norwich City and Newcastle United even earned him a first national call-up against Lithuania.
A concern would surely be the malleolar injury Butland incurred last season. He has been out for the entire season and no matter who ends up buying him, having him in full potential will be doubtful. The injury has led him to miss a mammoth 40 games for the Potters, which was a huge blow for Hughes’ side who has lost 16 games this season conceding 56 goals. City wouldn’t want the same thing to happen.
Guardiola’s decision to send Joe Hart to Italian side Torino on loan is still questioned by many, and his decision to replace Hart with Claudio Bravo was perhaps his biggest blunder this season. The Chilean has conceded 26 goals in 22 league outings, and five goals in four Champions League games. It pretty much bundled City’s season and Guardiola had to summon the second choice Willy Caballero after that.
While the Argentine has been quite impressive conceding 13 goals in 16 league outings and a whopping 11 goals in five Champions League outings. Both have been dismal under the bar and with Caballero’s contract ending this summer, he is a sure departure.
More than anything, Butland will bring fresh blood to the side. Butland made his England debut back in 2012 and since then has appeared four times. An academy product of Birmingham City, Butland has spent most of his professional careers on loan with other clubs. Before Stoke City bought him in 2013, he was loaned off to League Two side Cheltenham Town. And after the Potters got him, he played for Barnsley, Leeds United and Derby County.
In 50 games for the Potters, he has conceded only 63 times. Hughes knows how important an asset he is for the club. He still has four years left on his contract and any move before that would cost huge money to any side.
