CITY Mahrez leaves Pep with a real dilemma
AFTER smashing goals records and breaking Premier League nuts with both sledgehammer and scalpel, it seemed the last thing City needed was another attacking player this summer.
It was clear that another holding midfielder was a necessity, with Fernandinho running himself into the ground at times.
And it looked like a centre-back would be a possibility, especially when Vincent Kompany had another injury crisis at the World Cup.
But the Blues, while pursuing Jorginho as relief for their Brazil midfield star, have shown no inclination to get another defender.
And now the first transfer over the line is a man who has been the scourge of the Premier League as a right-sided attacker.
City already have Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva in that role, and the England ace’s form last season restricted Bernardo’s appearances.
But Bernardo found his feet towards the end of the season – and what feet they were, as he became a major influence in the Blues’ strong finish.
So, on the face of it, City now have three top-class right wingers.
Accepted wisdom is that the best squads have two players for every position, so it seems the Blues are overloaded on that flank. Unless Pep Guardiola has something up his sleeve, of course.
He is a great believer in his players being rigid and disciplined in their defensive formation, but fluid and untrackable in the opposition half.
As long as he brings in another sitting midfielder, the only position in which there is no actual cover is on the left, with Leroy Sane the only occupant.
It could also be argued that there are only three senior players – David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan – for two attacking midfield positions.
Of course, Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz are a year older, and could be seen as adding to that department.
But it opens up the possibility that Bernardo could be seen as more of a central player this season.
He took that role on occasion last season, and very nearly rescued Portugal when he was switched inside and started to run the game in their World Cup defeat by Uruguay.
He was earmarked as the longterm successor to his namesake David when City shelled put £43m for him last summer, and Guardiola has already suggested the Spanish genius will play fewer games in the coming campaign.
The other possibility is that one of Sterling, Mahrez or Bernardo – or even all of them – are seen as options on the left.
Mahrez has occasionally played on the left for Leicester. He scored twice in a 3-0 win at Bruges in the Champions League from that position.
Sterling has also done a job carving in from the left-wing, while Bernardo has played there for Monaco and for Portugal.
The simple fact is that, with Mahrez in place, they now have six top-class players for the three attacking slots – and from those, Bernardo and even Mahrez could do a job as cover for David Silva or De Bruyne.
If City can land a new central midfielder - with Mateo Kovacic and Mario Lemina next on their list if they don’t land Jorginho - they will be extremely attractive and solid in the front six.