Manchester City will welcome Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium this Tuesday night as they look to secure a good result at home in the UEFA Champions League.
It is no secret that Manchester City will need to sign a quality right-back in time. Rico Lewis is a midfielder playing at right-back. Lewis also lacks the physical attributes to keep up with some of the Premier League and Europe’s tricky and quick wingers.
Yesterday, it emerged that Abdukodur Khusanov had withdrawn from international duty with Uzbekistan due to a calf injury. The young centre-back is expected to be sidelined for two weeks.
Currently, it appears unlikely that Manchester City will sign a right-back before the transfer window closes. If that proves to be the case, then Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes will share duties in the position.
Tottenham are in a four-way battle with Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle United for the signing of Juventus right-back Nicolo Savona It has not been plain sailing for Tottenham Hotspur this transfer window.
Last week saw Rico Lewis linked with a surprise move to Nottingham Forest. Jack Gaughan reported that Forest were eager to add Lewis to their squad. Speaking after Manchester City’s win over Wolves, Lewis declared that he had no interest in leaving Manchester City.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have been strengthening in all departments in recent weeks, after their place in the UEFA Europa League was confirmed by CAS.
Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of pulling off a surprise late swoop for Manchester City starlet Rico Lewis look to have been dashed after both Pep Guardiola and the player himself signalled his intention to stay at the Etihad.
Late last week, it was reported by Jack Gaughan for the Daily Mail that Nottingham Forest were interested in signing Rico Lewis. Manchester City do need to let players go to trim the size of Pep Guardiola’s squad.
There is a possibility that Rico Lewis could leave Manchester City during the current transfer window. Jack Gaughan has reported for the Daily Mail that Nottingham Forest are pushing to sign the England international.
The surprising story to emerge this week was the potential of Savinho leaving Manchester City. That particular story came out of nowhere and has progressed to a stage where it would be a surprise if Savinho remained at City when the transfer window closed.
Perhaps the only hole in the Manchester City squad for next season that exists currently is at right-back. Looking at Pep Guardiola’s squad shows that Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis are likely the two players who will battle it out to be City’s first-choice right-back.
When looking at the current Manchester City squad the only position that appears to need to be strengthened is right-back. If City can sign a quality right-back they’ll enter next season with a complete squad for Pep Guardiola to utilise.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola described Rico Lewis' 88th-minute red card in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Wydad AC as an "unnecessary" decision by the referee.
Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-nil victory over Wydad AC. Pep Guardiola’s side will be happy with their victory and elements of their performance.
With Kyle Walker looking like he has played his last game at Manchester City, and Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes not seeming to be consistent enough to be City’s first-choice right-back, it’s one position that City seem certain to strengthen.
All attention over the past day or so has been on the potential players Manchester City can sign to bolster their midfield this summer. But other positions in Pep Guardiola’s squad need to be strengthened.
Manchester City do need to sign a right-back this summer. Currently, Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis are sharing duties at right-back for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Tinkering with football tactics and coming up with new innovations is nothing new to Pep Guardiola. He has altered his tactics a number of times at Manchester City, the most recent of which came in the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.