CITY SPECIAL Only a real ‘special one’ will tempt City to buy
CITY are still hoping to provide a back-up for Fernandinho from within the current squad.
The holding role in Pep Guardiola’s team was identified as one of two key positions to improve - with Riyad Mahrez fulfilling the other role - and Jorginho heading a shortlist that also comprised Southampton’s Mario Lemina and Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic earlier in the summer.
However, the failure to land the Napoli midfielder after months of negotiations saw the club revise their strategy in a market the manager had unenthusiastically deemed ‘expensive’.
Ilkay Gundogan, Aleks Zinchenko, Fabian Delph and Kevin De Bruyne are all considered players that could fill in for Fernandinho while Claudio Gomes and Douglas Luiz should also provide competition.
Gomes, signed from PSG this summer, came on for the final few seconds of the Community Shield win and signed for City under the impression that firstteam opportunities would be available.
Despite struggling to make an impression on loan at Girona last season, 20-year-old Luiz caught Guardiola’s eye on tour to the extent that the club are waiting to see if they can secure a work permit to keep the Brazilian in Manchester this season – a decision could be made this week.
City sources have already dismissed interest in high-profile players Miralem Pjanic, Julian Weigl, Thiago Alcantara and Kovacic, and it is expected there will not be a major addition to the squad before the deadline.
But the manager reiterated after the Community Shield win over Chelsea that they will keep looking for a ‘special’ option in the market until its closure on Thursday.
“We are trying [to sign someone],” he said. “We would like to find maybe one more because we don’t have two specific players to substitute Fernandinho.
“But, if he doesn’t come, there will not be anyone else.” PEP Guardiola is expecting big things from Sergio Aguero this season.
The striker showed his predatory instincts to score the 200th and 201st goals of his City career to ensure the first trophy of the season with a Community Shield win over Chelsea on Sunday. Having returned to training last week after his involvement with Argentina at the World Cup, Aguero played 80 minutes of the Wembley clash and looks well placed to start the Premier League opener at Arsenal on Sunday.
City’s coaching staff, who have already been taken with the 30-year-old in training, believe he is enjoying the benefits of surgery done at the back end of last season before the World Cup.
“We were really impressed when he arrived,” said Guardiola.
“Sergio always has a little bit with his physicality. Maybe he needs a little bit more time to take his physical condition. But he arrived so sharp, so good after his knee operation at the end of last season.
“He suffered the previous years with a little bit of a problem and Ramon Cugat - the best doctor in the world - made the perfect surgery and now he feels free.
“I think it’s good news for us for the season. He scored two goals, produced chances, he could have scored three or four or five. That is good.”
Despite increased competition thanks to the arrival of Gabriel Jesus, Aguero has become even more prolific under Guardiola.