According to a recent report by Calciomercato, Premier League giants Manchester City are said to be lining up a potential swap deal in the summer, for the services of Inter Milan’s Slovakian international defender Milan Skriniar. The Citizens are said to be willing to offer former Juventus right-back Joao Cancelo in exchange for the centre-half’s signature, but it has been suggested that Antonio Conte is unconvinced by the Portuguese defender’s attributes.
It is claimed in the report that Manchester City have been keeping tabs on the Slovakian international for numerous months now and that they view him as a good defensive option. Meanwhile, at the San Siro, Conte is said to be unsure of whether Cancelo – a high-energy attack-minded full-back, would fit in well with the manager’s rather pragmatic footballing system.
What Has Manchester City’s Defensive Situation Been This Season?
The Citizens ended the last term as the champions of the Premier League but then went on to lose the leader within this side – Vincent Kompany. The Belgian veteran spent many years at the Etihad Stadium, and despite the considerable amount of notice that City were given, they failed to sign a replacement for him. Although going into a Premier League season with just four recognised centre-halves is asking for trouble, the manager probably saw the names on that list and felt confident in his players.
The unexpected injury to Aymeric Laporte in September turned out to be the turning point of Manchester City’s season. Despite having three natural defenders available for selection, the manager was forced to push experienced Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho into a defensive role, where he excelled. Even in such a situation, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi offered no level of consistency. At the same time, Eric Garcia is still far too young to be utilised in the Premier League every week.
What Would Milan Skriniar Add To This Manchester City Side?
The Slovakian is one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe right now, as he tends to dominate the box using his intelligence and physicality. Adept at cutting out through balls, the Inter Milan defender has been earning plaudits for his work at the back this season, and it doesn’t come as a surprise that Pep Guardiola has identified the 25-year-old as the ideal man to partner up with Laporte.
Why Manchester City Must Sign Skriniar In The Summer In Exchange For Cancelo
The Portuguese full-back’s time as a Manchester City player has been far from a success, and the fact that he’s just played in eleven league games this season further highlights that fact. It’s clear that despite his good attacking potential, the former Inter Milan man isn’t cut out for the Premier League, while Milan Skriniar on the other hand, should’ve perhaps been born just a few miles down the road from the Etihad.
This season has been a defensive disaster for Manchester City, and pairing two of the best centre-halves in world football together as a solution, is sure to have some sort of positive impact for Pep Guardiola’s side.
