Manchester City are reportedly following Raphael Guerreiro’s progress and could move the Portuguese to solve their left-back problem.
According to Fichajes, Raphael Guerreiro is one of the prominent names on the Manchester City shortlist for new left-backs. The Premier League champions are backed to move for the Portuguese.
Raphael Guerreiro, 27, has become a key member of the Borussia Dortmund side. Playing in his sixth Bundesliga season, the Portuguese full-back has been a consistent member of a team known to play attractive, attacking football.
The left-back has played more than 160 games for Dortmund in all competitions, scoring 32 goals and providing the same number of assists during this time. From an attacking point of view, he would be a perfect addition to any team that aspires to plenty of contributions from their full-backs, and Manchester City are certainly one.
Pep Guardiola has a certain problem with the left-back area. They do not have an out-and-out left-sided full-back, with Benjamin Mendy still suspended following his police charge. Oleksandr Zinchenko is an option, however, the manager has overlooked the Ukrainian for most parts instead of deploying Joao Cancelo in his place.
Cancelo is naturally a right-back, although he has played plenty of games under Guardiola as an inverted full-back from the left-hand side. This style has seen the output from the full-backs go down a bit in terms of goals and assists. As the manager is constantly looking to improve his side, there is a need for a proper attacking left-back.
Guerreiro’s name features prominently on the shortlist prepared by the club. The Portuguese’ all attacking style would certainly suit that of Guardiola’s, and instead of using an inverted full-back, the manager can deploy a proper player with a great pedigree.
Manchester City spent the summer chasing attacking talents and landed Jack Grealish in a £100 million deal. Then they spent the rest of the time chasing Harry Kane without success, and many had pointed the problem at left-back. The club have shortages in the position, and with Mendy’s future less than certain to be resolved anytime soon, Guardiola will have to replace the expensive Frenchman.
A move will depend on Dortmund’s resilience to hold on. Manchester City could certainly make an offer in January, or in the summer, as he will have only a year left on his deal. A reasonable fee could be agreed in the winter window, but if the German side are doing well at that point in the Bundesliga, they will be reluctant to part ways.
