While they remain a fabulous team when on song,
Left back has been an issue for City for a few years now, with Benjamin Mendy suffering injury after injury after injury. Oleksandr Zinchenko has done a fine job filling in when necessary, but he’s not the marquee full back City will be looking for moving forward.
Since the days of Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov, the fans at the Etihad have watched on as the likes of Danilo and Fabian Delph deputised in a position they weren't natural in. So, with Mendy likely to not be considered a long term player due to his frequent unavailability, a new left back is in order.
We’ve already looked at centre back and right back, so let’s complete the set and do Guardiola’s job for him on the other flank. Here are five left backs City could target in the summer window.
David Alaba
We’re starting off as strong as possible here.
Alaba would be an absolute marquee signing for City if they could tempt him away from Bayern Munich. The Austria international has spent the last ten years in Bavaria since making his debut aged just 17, becoming Bayern’s youngest debutant in the process, and has gone on to become one of the world's best players.
A class act going forward, solid defensively, and a free kick specialist, Alaba has it all. He made rapid progress in the the Bayern first team under Pep during his three year stint at the club and a reunion could be a match made in heaven. Alaba can also play at centre back - like, actually play there unlike Fernandinho - and in central midfield, as he often does for Austria.
His Bayern contract runs out next summer, and there are whispers he would like to leave. City would seem an ideal destination, but the Champions League ban still hanging over their heads could be the only hiccup. It’s a big hiccup, though, for a player who could play for any team in the world.
Potential Price: £45m - £60m
Nicolás Tagliafico
It seems at the moment that in order to qualify as an elite club, you need to be linked with Tagliafico. It’s good criteria, though. Have you seen him play?
The Argentine has been at Ajax for two and a half seasons now, starring in their heroic run to the Champions League semi finals in 2018/19, and has become one of the best full backs in Europe in the process.
He’s a sound defender, but if you watch a compilation of his goals you’d think he was the new Ruud van Nistelrooy - his positioning in the box is honestly just that good. He’ll have no shortage of suitors in the summer, but if City come calling it’d be difficult for him to go anywhere else.
Potential Price: £25m - £35m
José Gayà
Like Tagliafico, it appears that every elite club on the planet is preparing to stock their club stores full of shirts with
Gayà has spent his entire career at Valencia, being one of their best players in recent years after breaking into the first team in 2014. There are very few players in the world who can time a tackle as well as Gayà, and he’s not too shabby going forward either; just ask any La Liga right back.
An inverted full back - which suits Pep down to the ground - the native Catalan loves coming into the half spaces and delivering devastating early crosses into the box. He could be a revelation in Manchester, and if his Valencia teammate Eliaquim Mangala has a word in his ear to convince him to sign, it’d be the best thing he ever did for City.
Potential Price: £40m - £45m
Alex Moreno
Ok, so this one’s a bit left field, but just hear us out. Moreno may not be a name familiar to most people, and so far the only concrete links have been with clubs like West Ham. However, Moreno is one the most under appreciated players in La Liga and there are far worse options City could go for.
The Spaniard is quick, comfortable dribbling, rarely misses a tackle, and has been a standout player in a fairly mediocre season for Real Betis this year.
A cheaper option should City wish to spend bigger elsewhere and a player who would still consider the move a big step should the Champions League ban be enforced. This may not be the move City fans want, but it could be the one they need.
Potential Price: £10m - £20m
Lucas Digne
Everton faced a big problem a few years back; how they would go about replacing club legend Leighton Baines? Turns out Lucas Digne was the answer to the question many Everton fans were scared to ask.
Digne may have struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting XIs of PSG and Barcelona, but his performances at Goodison Park over the last couple of seasons have proven he is a proper talent. With his stock now proven, he deserves a second chance at one of Europe's best clubs.
The Frenchman is a threat going forward and has a wonderful left peg, which is equally deadly from free kicks or open play. Digne may be a safe option from the Premier League, but he’d by no means be a poor option to turn to.
Potential Price: £45m - £50m
Source : 90min