Reports rotating in the rumour mill are claiming that Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi is angling for a move back to the Premier League. His recent claim that he “loves” the English league has put everyone on red alert including Arsenal and the neighbouring clubs of Manchester.
The arch-rivals of Manchester have gotten off to the best possible start this season. After a busy summer that saw both the clubs spend in excess of £150 million, Manchester City and Manchester United currently are sitting pretty in the top two positions in the league. Manchester City has already put daylight difference, after just eleven game weeks, between them and the rest of the league.
However, it is now being reported that both managers are looking to add further depth and strength to their squad and French central defensive midfielder Steven N’zonzi has become the new target for both the clubs.
N’Zonzi has previously played for Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City in the Premier League. His English league career was not the biggest hit and the dynamic midfielder ended up moving to Spain by joining Sevilla for a seven million pound deal in the year of 2015 on a four-year contract.
His move to Spain bore him good fruit as the midfielder has become a crucial cog in the Sevilla midfield. His impressive outings for the Spanish outfit has seen him get the first call-up to the French National set up, a feat quite impressive, given that France currently boasts of midfielders like Kante, Rabiot, Matuidi and more.
It is now being reported that a move back to England could be possible for the ball-playing midfielder with City keen to add him to their ranks.
The scene for Pep’s City is interesting. They are off to the best possible start this season and the Citizens have a host of attacking talent but lack of depth in the midfield. Yaya Toure is reaching the twilight of his career which leaves Fernandinho and injury-prone Ilkay Gundogan as the only players who can play in the holding midfield role.
With Pep known to be a manager who likes to rotate his side for matches, he could do with a player of N’Zonzi’s calibre and versatility in the team. The Frenchman has all the assets required to play for a Pep Guardiola team and his driving midfield runs could prove to be an added threat for oppositions facing Manchester City. The move to City will, however, see him suffer his chances of playing regular first-team football but the opportunity to be under Guardiola’s tutelage could tip the balance in City’s favour.
