Just days after Manchester City completed the signing of one of the most exciting talents in world football in Bernardo Silva, reports now suggest that Pep Guardiola is close to landing his AS Monaco teammate Benjamin Mendy in yet another big money deal this summer.
According to reports, the 22-year old is wanted by French giants PSG and City’s direct rivals Liverpool but City seem to have won the race and are only waiting to negotiate a fee with the French club for his services. If the deal goes through, City will have spent more than £80m for two 22-year olds, who have had one great season, in one of the least competitive leagues in Europe.
The first choice left-back for Monaco, Mendy is a marauding full-back who loves to spend more time in the final third than defending his goal. With sumptuous crossing and mesmerising dribbling abilities, he is a bundle of energy that is hard to tie down on the flank and his five assists in League 1 and four in the Champions League are proof of his attacking abilities.
He is decent with his defensive contributions but has room to improve and at his age, is a perfect fit for Guardiola’s system at the Etihad. But spending £80m on two players from the same team is definitely going to raise some eyebrows.
Though both players have been in tremendous form, neither Silva nor Mendy has played league football outside Portugal and France and it is surely a risk, Guardiola thinks is worth taking. Silva and his creativity may help City improve their productivity in front of goal but Mendy has a more specific role and has a greater chance of turning into a failure in England.
He is strong and athletic and can prevail in the English league but playing at left-back, he will have to do a lot more defending than he did in France. There will be a few teams who will look to target him when they take on City and if he does not have a decent start to the campaign, there is every chance that he can turn into a squad player in no time.
Spending around £20m on a left back in itself is an investment that does not promise sure returns. But City’s left back target is valued at around £55m and though Pep may be able to negotiate, he will never be able to purchase him at a price where it is a safe investment.
At his age, he might come good in years to come but having thrived in an environment tailor-made for a player like him at the Stade Louis II, Mendy will surely find it difficult to shoulder City’s responsibilities. After a trophy-less season, Pep needs first team stars of the highest order and he needs to realise that not everyone from Monaco’s wonder season is capable of repeating it in England.
