In a recent Q&A on the Manchester Evening News website, Simon Bajkowski, Manchester City writer for the publication, has been discussing potential targets City could pursue this summer in an attempt to replace former centre-back Vincent Kompany.
Replacing Kompany was always going to prove a difficult task.
The Belgian centre-back made 360 appearances for Manchester City over his 11 years with the club, leading the side to four Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and two Community Shields.
However, following Kompany’s departure from City at the end of last season, Pep Guardiola failed to bring in a centre-back during the summer transfer window, meaning that City’s options in the heart of defence were limited to that of Aymeric Laporte, John Stones, Nicolás Otamendi and Eric Garcia for the 2019/20 campaign.
The decision not to bring in a centre-back has come back to haunt Guardiola, who, due to multiple injuries sustained by Laporte and Stones over the course of this season, has often resorted to fielding Fernandinho in central defence.
Addressing the matter, Simon Bajkowski commented:
“Whoever is brought in it will be 12 months too late. A centre-back signing was needed last summer and it was obvious on the pre-season tour. City’s refusal to pay what they perceive to be over the odds for players can be admirable but the difference between £70m and £80m for Harry Maguire hasn’t really looked worth the £10m City saved by not plumping for the Leicester man.”
He continued: “City will again be looking at defenders in the summer market and, as what happened with Jorginho and Rodri, you would expect them to sign at least one – potentially two – with the futures of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones uncertain.”
Bajkowski then turned his focus to potential targets for City this summer, stating:
“[Samuel] Umtiti is proven and the Frenchman would easily be able to slot into the dressing room, but City have in the past searched for homegrown talents – hence them keeping tabs on Nathan Ake, for instance; if Bournemouth were to be relegated, that could prompt an auction for the defender. At least one centre-back has to be a priority in the next window though.”
As such, it would appear that Bajkowski believes Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake to be two of the names on Pep Guardiola’s shopping list this summer, while the reporter also comments that the position must be City’s priority over the next window.
This would appear sensible advice, as following the departure of Kompany, Manchester City have been dramatically overtaken by Liverpool in the Premier League table, with the Merseyside club – who finished last season one point behind Manchester City – leading Guardiola’s side by 25 points this year.