According to a recent report by Italian publication CalcioMercato, reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City could have to brace themselves for an incoming swap bid from Serie A side Juventus. Maurizio Sarri’s Italian giants are said to be willing to offer Brazilian speedster Douglas Costa in exchange for the services of the Citizens’ prodigious Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus. The Old Lady have been consistently linked with a move for the City attacker over recent weeks.
The player’s agent, as suggested by MEN, did clarify a few days ago that anything was possible, especially because the club in question is a great one like Juventus. He further claimed that most clubs would try to be happy with what they have in the squad, while others will try to pull off previously unthinkable transfers. The Serie A side’s search for a new partner for Cristiano Ronaldo has been no secret, with Gonzalo Higuain’s involvement and influence dwindling by the week.
What Would Douglas Costa Add To This Manchester City Side?
The Brazilian can be best described as the quintessential South American winger, as he boasts blistering pace as well as trickery. Adept at beating his man, the speedster certainly isn’t just a one-trick pony either. Formerly of Bayern Munich, the attacker tends to time his runs down the flank quite well, while he is also a sharp crosser of the ball. While there have been concerns about his discipline in the past, the fact that he’s worked with Pep Guardiola before could come as a boon.
The Citizens boast a variety of attack-minded players in their squad, all of who possess varying skill-sets that can be utilised across a plethora of different situations. While the early-season injury to Leroy Sané did have a negative impact, it could be argued that the likes of Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva were able to fill that void effectively. All things considered, it’s unlikely that Douglas Costa would add any attributes that are not already a subset of all the players who are currently plying their trade at the Etihad Stadium.
Should Pep Consider Selling Jesus In Exchange For Costa?
Gabriel Jesus arrived from the Brazilian league as a heavily unpolished gem but has since been transformed by Pep Guardiola into one of the deadliest and most highly-rated young strikers in the world. The youngster’s reactions and composure when inside the box are second to none, while the fact that he’s one of the most talismanic finishers in the squad comes as a bonus to the side.
More importantly though, the fact that Sergio Aguero is now on the wrong side of his thirties would surely be concerning Guardiola as well. This was finally the year when the manager realised that Gabriel Jesus is just too good to be warming the bench and playing second fiddle to Aguero.
Having brought him into the side across a variety of circumstances, the young Brazilian has proven that he has what it takes to take over from their Argentine strike sensation eventually. With explosive players like Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sané already in their ranks, there’s no need for another dribbler in Costa, while the sheer talent of Gabriel Jesus would be far too much to pass up on from a City perspective.
