Manchester City are keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Noah Bamba as a potential addition to Pep Guardiola’s side.
According to Football Transfers, Noah Bamba emerges on Manchester City’s list of midfielders as Pep Guardiola wants new additions in the central positions. The Premier League champions could make a move for the 18-year-old Bundesliga midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen but may have to pay a premium.
Pep Guardiola may not have executed his plans well in the summer transfer window, especially with the midfield department. The Catalan boss reportedly wanted to bring an additional deep-lying midfielder at the expense of beleaguered star Kalvin Phillips.
Both Phillips and Manchester City consider an exit likely during the January window as the England midfielder continues to struggle for relevance under Guardiola. The Catalan will immediately look into the market for a replacement and may target a young name to replace the former Leeds United star.
Teenage Brazilian talent Gabriel Moscardo features on their list, but there’s intense competition from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. They are also reportedly looking at big-name and experienced players like Joshua Kimmich, but this is the kind of transfer that does not happen mid-season.
On the younger side, there are also links to Khephren Thuram, but again, there are plenty of clubs in the hunt for the Frenchman. What Guardiola needs is a player who can operate in the deep-lying central areas and protect the defence.
The reliance on Rodri continues to grow for Guardiola, and he would seek an alternative. Phillips was brought just for that, but the England man has failed to impress. Now, they have set sights on Bayer Leverkusen’s 18-year-old Bundesliga midfielder Noah Bamba.
Bamba fits Guardiola’s requirements, and with his tender age, he could develop within this Manchester City side. He has been impressive whenever Xavi Alonso has trusted him at Leverkusen, although he has made only two substitute appearances this season.
The 18-year-old Bundesliga midfielder clearly hasn’t broken through in this Leverkusen side but holds plenty of promise for the future. There are some notable challenges ahead of him in the pecking order, including former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka.
With Leverkusen reportedly open to ideas, they will certainly charge a premium if a team like Manchester City shows an interest. The 18-year-old Bundesliga midfielder, if he does sign with Manchester City, will probably assume the role of a backup to some of the current midfield positions.
For instance, a viable backup to Rodri seems like the most obvious outcome of his move, but he could also learn the trade in slightly advanced areas. Hence, this could be a player to watch out for, as Manchester City will scour the market for a new young midfielder.
