Manchester City have reportedly been linked with Bayer Leverkusen fullback, Benjamin Henrichs, right along with their next-door neighbours. Pep Guardiola is keen on making more signings ahead of the 2018/19 season and would like to bring another youngster into the double winning squad.
Henrichs is one of the star performers of the Bundesliga outfit and has recently broken into the first team with 27 total appearances this season. His contract is set to run for another 4 seasons and has a release clause of £31m.
Henrichs is a product of the Leverkusen youth academy and has 8 caps for the German U19 and U21 sides. Joachim Low featured the 21-year-old in 3 senior games during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Primarily a right-back by choice, Henrichs is also quite versatile with his positioning on the pitch. He is highly impactful from the other side of the pitch as well and can make those rare appearances in the centre-back role.
His all-around pedigree on the pitch is highly rated in the Leverkusen ranks and could be ideal for the pace of the English game. Manchester City are known for their high-pressing possession-based style of football as implemented by the former Barcelona head coach and Henrichs certainly could be the right fit.
He is not shy about making the overlapping runs and has a decent right foot, primed for those early crosses into the opposition box. The German international is still developing into one of the top-professionals and could soon challenge Joshua Kimmich for the number 1 spot in the national team.
However, the prospects of that panning out at the Etihad are relatively low. The Citizens already have cemented starters in Kyle Walker and Danilo. Both of them signed with the English champions last summer and has adjusted to life at the Etihad.
Walker is almost the undisputed starter on the right, mostly due to his career-long involvement in the Premier League and the starting berth for the England national team. Danilo is versatile and can be utilized on both wings but is better suited to the right.
Henrichs will only arrive as a rotational option and will be delegated to those rare cup appearances. That is not the ideal climate for a developing youngster and could massively hinder his growth as a full-fledged professional.
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If Manchester City do come in with a lucrative offer it would be wise for the player to really consider his options rather than making the leap.
