Manchester City require a centre back after the departure of Vincent Kompany. The Belgian defender has left an enormous hole in the squad to fill as more than a player; he was the leader of the side. His time was hindered with injuries in the last few years, but last season, Guardiola preferred him in quite a few big games.
The Citizens are after a centre back, and they have been linked with quite a few players. ESPN pundit Alejandro Moreno believes that the Premier League champions should go after the in-demand Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt
What did Moreno say?
He said (Daily Star), ”There’s been plenty of opportunities to play John Stones and he (Guardiola) is essential saying ‘thanks but no thanks’. Vincent Kompany, he’s gone, leaves a huge hole right there in the centre-back position. He (De Ligt) would be ideal, a guy that can actually play with the ball at his feet. Young guy, up and coming, a lot of potential. Could he fulfil that potential at Manchester City? Why not? John Stones didn’t, but maybe Matthijs de Ligt does.”
Why should City consider De Ligt?
It is slightly surprising to see Manchester City not fighting to sign De Ligt when they need to add a defender. Even Nicolas Otamendi is looking for a move away in search of regular game time. The likes of Barcelona, PSG, Liverpool and even Manchester United who cannot offer De Ligt Champions League football have been linked with him in the past few weeks.
Maybe Guardiola doesn’t want to spend in upwards of £50m to land a new defender, but they have been linked with Harry Maguire who is valued by Leicester at a whopping £80m. Therefore City can surely consider going in for the Dutch defender who is the hottest property in football right now.
At just 19, he plays like a matured defender. His ability to pass the ball from the back, stay composed under pressure, and his physical presence makes him a top option. Moreover, he is also known as a leader of the side as at just 19; he captained Ajax. They won the Eredivisie title after a gap of five years, and the centre back had a huge role to play in that.
They even surprised everyone in the Champions League by reaching the semi-finals of the competition. With Kompany gone, the Citizens need to have defenders who would organise the backline, and De Ligt could be an ideal player for them. Quite a few teams have been linked with him, but none have been able to secure the signature of the defender, and Guardiola should consider joining the race for him.
