Why Manchester City must rope in teenage talent Mohamed Ihattaren
According to Calciomercato (h/t The Sun), Manchester City are in the hunt for £20m-rated PSV Eindhoven wonderkid Mohamed Ihattaren.
The 18-year-old has been earning rave reviews in Holland after his stellar displays for Eindhoven this season. Young Ihattaren has hit seven goals across all competitions for the Dutch giants, becoming an integral part of the current line-up.
It has been a breakthrough season for Ihattaren, having featured in 22 of Eindhoven’s overall 25 league games. He has also contributed to his side with six assists.
Having joined Eindhoven as a seven-year-old back in 2010, Ihattaren is currently tied to the club until 2022. He has made a total of 45 senior appearances for them so far. An attacking midfielder primarily, Ihattaren is also equally capable of operating on the right flank – something which he has done on numerous occasions for Eindhoven.
Out of his overall 33 appearances for the Dutch giants this term, young Ihattaren has featured 19 times as a creative playmaker, and 13 times as a right-winger. This provides a strong indication of his versatility.
With the youngster turning a lot of heads this season after his eye-catching displays for Eindhoven, Premier League clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea have shown an interest in him.
Ihattaren could be a future replacement for David Silva
However, this is not the first time Ihattaren’s talents have garnered attention. The youngster first came into the limelight, after making 12 league appearances for Eindhoven last season. Meanwhile, City are in the lookout for new talents with their star midfielder and skipper David Silva’s contract ending at the end of this year’s campaign.
Having joined City from Valencia back in 2010, Silva has been a mainstay in the City midfield since his debut season. He has won four Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups, and five League Cups making him one of the legends of the club.
Despite turning 34 in January, Silva still remains one of the key members of Pep Guardiola’s side, making 28 appearances in total this season.
With Silva set for a departure from the Etihad after a long ten years with the club, City are in clear need of a talented playmaker in their midst. Guardiola’s side still have star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in their side. However, with his performances improving every year, it might not be soon before he attracts the interest of top clubs in Europe.
Also, he is 28 already and City would benefit with a young upcoming talent like Iharatten if they wish to stay on top for a longer duration. Hence, City should continue their pursuits of the Utrecht-born Dutchman.
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Verdict
Veteran skipper Silva is certain to leave the club at the end of the season. And, in Ihattaren, Manchester City would have an able future replacement for him . Moreover, he is still in his teens and can develop his game a lot under a top coach like Guardiola. Also, his arrival will ease the burden upon De Bruyne and offer Guardiola plenty of options in attack.
