There seems no stopping Manchester City from lifting yet another Premier League title, their first under Pep Guardiola, as they have opened up an 8-point gap at the top of the points table, not even half-way through the season. The manager will be relatively pleased with the performances of the squad at his disposal but he does have a few areas he would want to strengthen, to establish City as a superpower for years to come.
City’s attack is mesmerizing but their midfield and defence are not at a level Guardiola would want it to be and it does not come as a surprise that he wants to solve both issues with just one buy. According to reports from Spain, Pep Guardiola is the only thing standing between Spanish ace Sergi Roberto and him signing a new deal at Barcelona.
The versatile midfielder recently revealed that negotiations with the club over a new deal are heading on the right track but that has not stopped Manchester City from scouting him extensively. There is little chance of Barcelona letting him leave in January but should Pep go all in for him at the end of the season?
Capable of playing anywhere in the midfield and also at right-back, Roberto is one of the most gifted players to have come out of the La Masia academy recently. His dribbling is exemplary and his spatial awareness, even in close quarters, makes him an effective player anywhere on the park.
He made his first senior appearance for the Catalans as a teenager back in 2010 but has only established himself in the first team under the previous manager Luis Enrique. He has already made 105 league appearances, in three different positions and has hardly ever let his team down.
He has three assists and a goal in 10 league appearances this season and is an integral part of the squad under Ernesto Valverde at the moment. And the fact that he is playing for his boyhood club will only make it even more difficult for Manchester City to lure him out of Spain.
However, if anyone can, Pep can. Guardiola was the one who gave Roberto a break into the senior side and if he is offered regular game time, as the first choice midfielder at the Etihad, Roberto may be tempted.
Yaya Toure and Fernando do not seem to have impressed Guardiola this season and could be sold soon while the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Fernandinho, Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva and Fabian Delph (who is being used as an LB this season) are the only options for three roles in the midfield for the manager and Roberto could even walk into the first team next season.
He will also be played more often in his preferred midfield role and a move to Manchester is surely one the player should consider. But at the moment, it is hard to see him quit Barcelona any time soon.
