For a considerable amount of time now, Paul Pogba has been touted as City’s primary transfer target this summer. Raheem Sterling has already been secured and City continue to pursue Wolfsburg hotshot Kevin De Bruyne, but evidently Pogba is the marquee signing that the club’s hierarchy want.
It is the sort of transfer that could not simply happen overnight. Barcelona had rivalled City for the Frenchman’s signature until the results of their recent president elections were revealed. Josep Bartomeu won the election, but it was his rival Joan Laporta who was desperate to land Pogba.
While that is a boost for City, Pogba’s wage demands remain steep and he would likely cost in excess of £70 million; which may act as a stumbling block.
So with it proving to be a difficult deal to strike, we take a look at some alternatives to the Juventus man should City’s pursuit not bare fruit.
Marco Verratti:
Though slight in terms of his physique, Verratti is one of the most brilliant deep lying midfielders around and is a wonderfully gifted footballer. Few can match his intelligence on the pitch and his incredible range of passing. It’s easy to see why he has regularly been seen as the long-term replacement for Andrea Pirlo in the Italy side.
City’s midfield has a fair bit of energy, with Delph and Fernandinho both willing runners, and Toure still unplayable when at his dominant best, but I do feel that they could benefit hugely from someone brimming with technical quality – especially in the big games.
Verratti is a perfect example, you just have to watch his performance at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League last season to get an indication of what a classy, controlled player he is. Unfortunately, this is a deal that is unlikely to come off this summer.
Axel Witsel:
The likes of William Carvalho, Morgan Schneiderlin and Yohan Cabaye would have been worthwhile investments at City in my view, but with an injury to the former, and the two Frenchman already agreeing their respective moves to Premier League sides, that is out of the question.
Radja Nainggolan was sensational against City in the Champions League last term, but he has been tied down by the Giallorossi in what is a great bit of business by them.
However, his Belgian compatriot Axel Witsel could be an appealing option and shares similar characteristics which would come in handy at City.
He is an accomplished player, able to both break up and dictate play. Fernando was brought in for that purpose but he has struggled to adapt in the Premier League.
Witsel is currently in the prime of his career and would surely want a bigger challenge than what he currently has at Zenit. A midfield trio of Witsel, Fernandinho and Toure could be quite special and so it is an option worth exploring.
Joao Moutinho:
I had Geoffrey Kondobgia as a potential option should Pogba not sign. The midfielder would have been a perfect alternative, possessing many of the qualities that Pogba has in his locker. However, he was snapped up by Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan.
City could move for a different kind of midfielder from Monaco; Joao Moutinho. He is not comparable to Kondogbia in many senses but would still bring a lot to the City midfield.
The 28-year old is one of the most underrated midfielders around, operating in any role in midfield – whether that be a deeper or more advanced position. City are widely expected to shift to a midfield three next year and Moutinho is someone that would be perfect for that system, with all the attributes that you would look for in an elite central player.
Spurs were close to signing the Portugese man a few years back but this summer may be the ideal time to bring him to the Premier League and improve City’s midfield considerably.
