Manchester City extended their winning run beyond all records as they are strolling to their first Premier League title under Pep Guardiola, this season. The manager will be relatively happy with the squad at his disposal but will be aware of the issues they face, that can stop them from creating history, for years to come.
Their midfield and attack are right up there with the best in Europe but the Blues lack a bit of quality in their defensive ranks and Guardiola is constantly looking for players, who can solve this problem. A number of star players have been constantly linked with a move to the Etihad and one player now on their radar is Serie full-back Faouzi Ghoulam.
Guardiola spent £150m on the likes of Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy, all fullbacks, in the summer transfer window, but has had to stick with Fabian Delph, a midfielder, at left-back. Benjamin Mendy picked up an ACL injury, that has pushed him out of first-team action, for at least another few months and the manager wants a natural full-back, for the business end of the season.
And reports from Il Mattino, an Italian news outfit, claim that Manchester City are ready to make a bid of around €50m for Ghoulam in the January transfer window. The Algerian full-back signed a new contract only on the 5th of this month but City are prepared to meet his release clause and are desperate for his services.
A transfer target for Liverpool in the summer transfer window, the 26-year old is currently in impressive form Italian giants SSC Napoli. He has been the first choice left-back there for over two years now and is an established player internationally.
He has two goals and three assists in 11 league appearances in Italy and is also the first choice for his national side, where he has 35 caps already.
Known for his strength on and off the ball, Ghoulam is an attacking minded full-back with gifted technique. His passing and crossing are a treat for a top class striker while his intelligence allows him to take up the right spaces at both ends of the field.
He loves to spend most of the game in attack but is also adept at clearing danger quickly down his flank, and has been successfully doing so for110 Serie A appearances to date. He also has 87 Ligue 1 appearances and 12 UCL appearances and is a decent option for City.
Mendy, when fit, will remain City’s first choice left-back but at the moment, with Delph also needed in the midfield, it might be time for the chequebook to come out for one for time.
