Man City boss Pep Guardiola gives a thumbs up to one of his players. (Getty Images)
According to the Sun, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his full-back options with a double scoop of Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Guardiola has had both Chilwell and Wan-Bissaka watched throughout this season and is impressed, with the duo set to cost the champions a combined £80million in the summer.
Manchester City spent heavily on full-backs a couple of seasons ago, signing Benjamin Mendy from AS Monaco and Kyle Walker from Tottenham but the former has struggled with injuries. After appearing 34 times for Monaco in their title-winning season, the Frenchman cost a whopping £52million which then made him the most expensive defender in world football.
Mendy missed 45 games for Manchester City in his debut season and has further missed another 24 games this season. Guardiola has used the likes of Danilo, Fabian Delph and youngster Phil Foden at left-back but none of them are natural left-sided defenders. Although brilliant when fit, Mendy’s injury history is worrying and City should replace him in summer.
Ben Chilwell has been a mainstay for Leicester this season, with the 22-year-old starting 23 times for the Foxes. Chilwell averages 1.3 tackles per game, 3.3 aerial duels won per game and a healthy 3.5 clearances per game. The England international has also provided 3 assists this season for Claude Puel’s side. Chilwell recently signed a new deal with the Foxes which keeps him at The King Power until the summer of 2024. It is expected that the Englishman will cost in the region of £50 million.
On the other side of defence, though, City have an undisputed starter in Kyle Walker. The former Tottenham man has been ever-present under Pep Guardiola after his £45million move two seasons ago. Danilo has been the second choice right-back but with just 20 starts out of a possible 62 in the league since the beginning of last season, the Brazilian could consider his options in the summer and City will need a promising replacement.
Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has shone this season and has started 24 times for Roy Hodgson’s side. The 21-year-old has taken the league by storm and averages a brilliant 3.8 tackles per game along with 2.4 interceptions and 3.3 clearances, better than the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Hector Bellerin and Kyle Walker.
Wan-Bissaka also averages more dribbles per game when compared to Kyle Walker, while boasting of the same number of assists. The youngster will learn a lot from both Guardiola and Walker and a move will benefit both parties. City will have to fork out £30million to sign the Palace man in summer.