Manchester City Seeking Versatile European Star Familiar to Pep Guardiola in Budget-Friendly Deal: Report
Manchester City are actively pursuing top talent from Europe in the upcoming January transfer window, as Pep Guardiola aims to resolve the current challenges facing his team.
The 2-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday has added to the woes for Manchester City, leaving them nine points adrift of Liverpool in the Premier League, and with one more match played. They have managed just one victory in their last 11 outings across all competitions, underscoring the need for significant adjustments.
It appears that Guardiola will have the opportunity to make the necessary changes in January, with a familiar face from his past at the top of his transfer wish list.
Manchester City to reunite Guardiola with Joshua Kimmich
Per the Daily Star, Manchester City is considering a January acquisition of Joshua Kimmich, who had a successful tenure under Guardiola at Bayern Munich during the 2015/16 season.
Kimmich was signed by the Catalan coach for €7m at just 20 years of age, making 36 outings in his debut season in Germany, showcasing his versatility by playing as a centre-back, central midfielder, and right-back throughout the year.
This adaptability could be immensely beneficial for Guardiola as he seeks to rectify Manchester City’s shortcomings, particularly with challenges in both defense and midfield impacting his squad this season. Kimmich would be especially valuable as a deep-lying midfielder, especially with Rodri sidelined for the remainder of the season, given Kimmich’s exceptional capability to control play from a deeper role.
Moreover, Manchester City could potentially sign Kimmich for significantly less than his £41.5m Transfermarkt valuation. With his contract at Bayern Munich expiring at the end of the season, Kimmich is eligible to negotiate with clubs outside of Germany starting January 1, allowing for the possibility of a pre-contract agreement to join at the season’s conclusion.
Given the likelihood of losing him on a free transfer, Bayern may consider selling the 29-year-old in January instead, with reports indicating that a fee as low as £10m could prompt the German club to part ways with him.
In the opinion of eScored, Kimmich appears to be the ideal player Manchester City requires at this juncture to address several of their concerns. While a transfer fee exceeding £10m is anticipated for a successful transfer, it would still represent a relatively economical acquisition.
However, whether Kimmich would be inclined to leave his home country for Manchester, especially as Bayern returns to form and City struggles, remains a significant question.
