Manchester City supporters have been making a lot of noise in the Transfer Tavern this season given their team’s incredible start to the campaign, which sees them eight points clear of neighbours Manchester United in the Premier League table after just 15 games.
Pep Guardiola’s men were tipped by many to go on and win the title this season, and they are certainly living up to expectations by winning 14 of their opening 15 league matches, with Everton the only side to have taken any points off the Citizens. However, they were made to work for the three points against West Ham last time out as Angelo Ogbonna’s header gave David Moyes’ side the lead at the Etihad Stadium, only for second half goals from Nicolas Otamendi and David Silva to complete the turnaround to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Consequently, there are many delighted Citizens fans in the Tavern this week, many of whom are daring to dream about what their team could go on to achieve this season, both domestically and on the European stage.
In the meantime though, there has been much for our resident City supporters to discuss, not least recent comments from pundit Pat Nevin regarding Guardiola’s possible interest in Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen.
The Denmark international has been a regular in Antonio Conte’s backline in recent times with five successive Premier League starts, to the point that he is keeping David Luiz out of the starting eleven.
And Nevin has recently said that the 21-year-old is a player Guardiola is keen to bring to City, yet the former Barcelona boss should forget about landing the Blues star, and instead seek to sign one of these TWO defenders…
Inigo Martinez
Inigo Martinez came up through the ranks at Spanish club Real Sociedad, and now boasts over 230 appearances for the club as he goes from strength to strength with the La Liga outfit.
The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Man City over the summer but no deal materialised, yet that doesn’t appear to have put Guardiola off as reports recently suggest that the Premier League leaders are lining up a January deal for the Spain international.
And given that Martinez can also play left-back, a potentially problematic position for Guardiola given Benjamin Mendy’s long-term injury, it’s a deal the former Barcelona chief must look to strike in the New Year.
Raphael Varane
Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane is one of the most highly-rated young centre-backs in world football, and has long been linked with a move to England, notably with City’s neighbours Manchester United.
The 24-year-old has already played 204 games for the Spanish giants and in that time has helped them to two La Liga titles as well as three Champions League crowns, striking up quite the partnership with Sergio Ramos in the heart of Zinedine Zidane’s backline.
Yet, the France international has been recently linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, and with Guardiola likely in need of greater centre-back strength in the second half of the campaign, it’s a move he must look to make in January.
