La Liga heavy hitters Real Betis are keeping tabs on Manchester City utility man Oleksandr Zinchenko as they aim to finish in the top four this season.
According to The Sun, La Liga top four hopefuls Real Betis are interested in making a move for Manchester City utility man Oleksandr Zinchenko in the ongoing January transfer window.
The Ukrainian international joined the Citizens in 2016 and has since made 112 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side, scoring twice and assisting nine more. The 25-year-old is a versatile player capable of fulfilling numerous roles for Manchester City, but is far from a regular at the Etihad.
Benjamin Mendy’s circumstances meant Zinchenko could have made a strong case to become the club’s first-choice left-back. However, Joao Cancelo had other plans and has seized the role for himself, limiting Zinchenko to just nine starts all season.
The Ukrainian is at an age when he should be playing week in week out, and Real Betis could offer him just that. The Verdiblancos are enjoying an excellent season and are currently third in La Liga. While there is still a long way to go, Betis have put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
However, Real Betis could do with some reinforcements in the Janaury transfer window and have earmarked Zinchenko as one of their targets. As a former Manchester City manager, it is debatable if Pellegrini can use any of his older contacts at the Etihad to facilitate the player’s move.
Zinchenko’s contract at Manchester City runs until 2024, and he is in no mood to call it quits at the club. Zinchenko is happy to stay and fight for his place and is targeting a contract extension. It would appear that he is pleased to play a secondary role at a top club rather than seek comparatively regular playtime at a smaller – yet ambitious – side in Betis.
Cancelo is currently in top form and is amongst the best left-backs in Europe. While Zinchenko is certainly an excellent backup, it is debatable if he can usurp the Portuguese international’s starting spot. His attitude, however, will come as good news for Guardiola as he seeks to motivate his side to keep winning major honours.
Every Batman needs a Robin, and it would appear to be the relationship that Cancelo and Zinchenko share. At best, the latter could emerge as a utility man capable of serving several roles. But the draw of winning trophies consistently could very well be something that Zinchenko is not willing to sacrifice.
