In a recent report, German news outlet Tag 24 claimed that Manchester City are among several clubs hoping to land Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria this summer. It is believed that Man City could face competition in the form of Arsenal and Napoli in the race to secure the services of the Swiss midfield ace during this summer transfer window (via Tag 24).
Zakaria’s Impressive Form At Borussia-Park
Zakaria managed to establish himself as a dominant figure at the heart of Monchengladbach’s midfield and produced some dominant displays for the German outfit last season. The Switzerland international took part in 32 matches for his current employers in the previous campaign, registering one goal, one assist and six yellow cards across all fronts.
The Genf-born talent caught the eye by averaging 1.2 tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 1.2 clearances and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga last season. Zakaria kept things tidy when distributing the ball from midfield, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 88% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
The 24-year-old has already begun to mature into a top defensive midfielder in German football, so Man City would do well to lure him to the Etihad Stadium ahead of the new campaign. The fact that Zakaria has got less than a year left to run in his Monchengladbach contract could open the door for Pep Guardiola to snap him up this summer.
Will Zakaria Be A Good Fit For Man City This Summer?
Zakaria is a tough-tackling midfielder who has got the tenacity to earn possession back for his team. He doesn’t take too many risks with his clearances and is often quick to snuff out the danger. The 34-time Switzerland international can keep the ball moving at the centre of the park but needs to add some productivity to his game in the final third.
We can expect a player of Zakaria’s skillset to add plenty of bite and steel to Pep Guardiola’s midfield department at the Etihad Stadium. He could serve as an ideal backup to Rodri and has the potential to become a perfect long-term successor to Fernandinho who is in the last legs of his playing career.
At 24, Zakaria is about to enter his prime soon which makes him a good fit for Man City in the long run. There is no doubt that the Swiss international will increase competition for places within Guardiola’s squad and could help the Mancunian giants maintain their stranglehold in domestic football for years to come.
