In a recent report, The Sun has stated that Manchester City are eyeing a January move for Ajax full-back Nicolas Tagliafico. It is understood that Man City boss Pep Guardiola is desperately trying to strengthen his left-back position and is ready to move in for the Argentine international when the transfer window reopens at the start of next year (via The Sun).
Tagliafico’s Impressive Form For Ajax Last Season
The former Independiente defensive ace had another outstanding campaign at Amsterdam after producing a string of dominant and productive performances on the left side of Erik ten Hag’s defence. Tagliafico participated in 38 matches for the Dutch giants last season, finding the back of the net on five occasions while securing seven assists in multiple competitions.
The 28-year-old established himself as a fan-favourite at the Johan Cruijff ArenA as he averaged 2.5 tackles, 1.7 interceptions, 2.1 clearances, 1.6 shots and 1.0 key passes per 90 minutes in the Dutch Eredivisie. He even distributed possession immaculately from the left-back position as evident from his pass completion rate of 85.9% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Tagliafico could be tempted with the opportunity to seal a move to the Etihad Stadium as it will finally give him a realistic chance to win the UEFA Champions League trophy in the coming seasons. Plus, he could thrive playing in Pep Guardiola’s style of football if Man City can bring him to the north-west of England in January.
What Will The Argentine Left-Back Bring To The Table?
Tagliafico has got the football IQ and vision to create some decent openings for his teammates in the attacking third. He is an accurate distributor of the ball and can whip in some inviting crosses into the opposition penalty box from the left flank. The Argentine can use his pace and composure to make a few penetrative runs with the ball and is also a capable defender at the back. He hardly gets beat in a 1v1 foot chase and is not afraid to get stuck in with a few tackles to earn possession back for his team.
Is Tagliafico The Right Fit For The Mancunian Giants?
An all-round left-back like Tagliafico will be a welcome addition to Guardiola’s squad as he would strengthen the quality of the Man City first-team considerably in mid-season. The recent form of Benjamin Mendy has been atrocious while Oleksandr Zinchenko has struggled to make himself available for selection this season.
Hence, Tagliafico’s potential acquisition could solve a real problem area in Guardiola’s starting XI because he has got what it takes to secure a regular left-back spot at the Etihad. At 28, the 26-time Argentine international has got plenty of time left in his locker to play at a high level. All in all, Tagliafico will be a great fit for Man City during the January transfer window as he will help the Mancunian club compete for even more silverware in the years to come.
