PEP’S EYE ON DIAS
Says England’s Raheem Sterling
PEP GUARDIOLA wants Ruben Dias to fix his defensive problems.
Manchester City will make a January move for the Benfica centrehalf who could cost them £79m. Guardiola has been forced to take action after City’s title
a Southgate is likely to look a lot happier than he did after watching his side concede three goals against Kosovo last month.
“Post-Kosovo, we weren’t very happy,” he said.
“So, you win 5-3, I’m miserable for a month!
“But that’s the standard we’ve set. We have expectations of ourselves and don’t expect to be doing laps of honour for qualifying.
“Equally, it’s a step on the road and it’s something that you should enjoy. The fact that we’ve got three matches at Wembley in the group stage is hugely exciting so to qualify for any major tournament is a big deal.
“Just because to this point we’ve made that look comfortable, we should never take it for granted.”
Sterling will link up with Harry Kane and Jadon Sancho in what is regarded as one of the hottest forward lines in world football.
But according to Southgate, he has had plenty of attacking options to consider before the finals.
“We’ve got Callum HudsonOdoi coming through and other players are emerging so quickly,” he added. “You’ve also got Bukayo [Saka] at Arsenal just dipping his toes in the first team as well.
“So, we’ve got really good players, three.
“I’ve always said that in tournaments that I played in, we always pinned our hopes on one player or two players.
“Then there was an injury, a drama and a crisis and you need players to be able to start games and you need players who are able to come on and make a difference in games.
“Clearly, at the moment Raheem and Harry, their numbers are incredible and the consistency of their performance is.
“But the rest can be down to performance at any given time.” we need more ENGLAND Czech Rep Kosovo Montenegro Bulgaria than SINOBO STADIUM (PRAGUE) TONIGHT, 7.45pm, ITV
LF4 4 0 0 19 4 5 3 0 2 9 8 5 2 2 1 1010 5 0 2 3 3 13 5 0 2 3 5 11 12 9 8 2 2 defence was hit by losses to Norwich and Wolves.
They have sufered for not replacing Vincent Kompany and are rueing a the loss of Aymeric Laporte until the New Year with a cruciate injury.
England defender John Stones has also been sidelined by injury but is set to reutrn this month.
In their absence midfielder Fernandinho has filled in alongside defender Nicolas Otamendi, 31, who has made costly mistakes.
It has left the Etihad club trailing leaders Liverpool by eight points and looking to bring in reinforcements.
Sources in Portugal have told Star Sport of City’s interest in Dias, who is under contract until 2024.
His current deal has a £59m release clause but Benfica are trying to improve his terms to raise his buy-out to £79m.
City baulked at paying a world-record £80m for defender Harry Maguire in the summer when he went to Manchester United from Leicester.
City will have to move fast with Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Lyon and United also keen on Dias.