PEP’S SUPER SAVER Ulloa’s set on Swans
Fernandinho takes centre stage
PEP GUARDIOLA reckons Fernandinho could be the man to save him more than £50m.
The Manchester City boss is in the market for a new centre-back before the transfer window closes on August 31.
Doubts remain about the long-term fitness of Vincent Kompany, who is expected to miss the start of the season.
The Belgium ace has not recovered from the latest leg muscle injury that ruined the end of his last campaign and also ruled him out of Euro 2016.
Guardiola has targeted England and Everton centre-back John Stones, along with Juventus ace Leonardo Bonucci.
He wants one of them to fill the defensive void, but with the Toffees demanding more than £50m for Stones and Bonucci stalling over a move to the Etihad, Guardiola knows he might have to come up with a ‘Plan B’.
But the Spanish boss reckons Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has all the qualities to become City’s version of Javier Mascherano.
Guardiola turned the Argentine midfielder into a defensive linchpin for Barcelona while at the Nou Camp.
He hailed Mascherano as one of the ® from TIM GRAY in Shenzhen most intelligent footballers he has ever managed and believes Fernandinho – or even fellow Brazilian Fernando – could make the same switch.
Guardiola has spent the last three weeks assessing the merits of his squad and said: “I think Fernandinho can play in 10 different positions, because he has the quality to play wherever.
“But he can certainly play there because he is quick, aggressive, intelligent and strong in the air.
King
“He has the quality to create good build-up play and can play a forward pass. Fernando can also play there, but maybe he is not as quick as Fernandinho.
“At the end of the transfer window we will have to see which players we have, but I think a lot of the midfield players we have here can play at the back, and when that happens, the build-up play is much, much better.”
The former Bayern Munich chief has made it clear to his men that possession is king.
His vision for how the game should be played became clear at Barca, where he won trophies for fun to establish himself as one of the best managers in the game.
Now he wants to implement the same ideas at the Etihad and knows building attacks from the back to midfield is crucial.
“We need to create good buildup play, with easy passes in midfield, to achieve good passes for our strikers further up the pitch,” he said ahead of today’s friendly against Borussia Dortmund in Shenzhen, China.
“I believe when the ball goes straight from a central defender to a striker, it usually comes back as quickly as it goes.
“We have to make it clear that we want to build up play in our first process, whether that is defenders or midfielders.
“That is why we need players of quality to play in that style. And we have the players to do that.
“But I think by August 31 we will have the right players to play the way we want.” ® LEO ULLOA has told Leicester he wants to join Swansea.
The champions have turned down an initial £7m bid for the striker.
But the 30-year-old fears he will be a bit-part player again next season and wants to move to Wales in search of a starting spot.
Ulloa’s six league goals played a part in the Foxes’ run to the Premier League title. His last-ditch penalty equaliser against West Ham ensured his team ended the season on a 12-match unbeaten streak.
But the Argentine started in just seven of his 29 appearances.
He is understood to have been tempted to leave by the promise of a key role in Francesco Guidolin’s Swansea strike-force.
Despite Leicester’s insistence Ulloa is not for sale, with the player wanting to go, it looks certain a deal will be agreed.
Swansea are also in the hunt for Barcelona’s £15m-rated winger Cristian Tello as they bid to strengthen their squad after a difficult season during which boss Garry Monk was sacked.
The 24-year-old Spaniard wants regular first-team football, with Southampton also interested in him.