Premier League Champions Manchester City have been linked with a move for Douglas Costa, according to reports. The English giants are ready to make a £88m bid for Juventus’ wide attacker, with Pep Guardiola reportedly keen on securing his services this summer.
Highly regarded as one of the best wingers in the Serie A, Douglas Costa has found resounding success since leaving Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015. After initially impressing at Bayern Munich, Costa was loaned out to Juventus in the summer of 2017 before the Italian champions signed him permanently.
Despite playing only one season in the Italian top flight, Douglas Costa has emerged as a key man in Juventus’ attack. His tally of four goals and 13 assists helped the Old Lady lift the Serie A title for the sixth consecutive time.
Manchester City, on the other hand, are desperate to strengthen their offensive unit this summer, as Pep Guardiola plans to bring more depth into the attack. Key forwards Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have been linked with a move away from the Etihad not far from now, which may leave the Citizens a bit shallow in the attacking department in the future. Therefore, the addition of a top-class attacker might not be the most surprising move on the part of Pep.
Douglas Costa, in that regard, could be an exciting addition to Manchester City. The Brazilian winger enjoyed a great time with Pep Guardiola during their time at Bayern Munich. Since joining the Bavarians in 2015, Costa flourished in the German top flight, largely thanks to Pep Guardiola’s ingenuity. However, following his departure from Bayern, Costa found it difficult to get regular game-time under then newly appointed head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Therefore, the Brazilian sensation will be eager to reunite with his former manager, especially at Manchester City, who have shown incredible promise under the Catalan mastermind.
Blessed with immense pace and acceleration, the 27-year-old is a dynamic winger, who can change the complexion of the game at any given time. However, it’s his ability to dribble past players which makes him such a sought-after player in European football. He can effortlessly drive past any defender, helping him be more influential in the final third. In addition, the Brazilian international also has the tendency to run in behind the defence, which can be very useful, especially in the Premier League.
Juventus are hoping to finalise a deal for Manchester United target Sergej Milinkovic Savic and the sale of Douglas Costa could help them fund the transfer for the highly rated midfielder this summer. Costa, on the other hand, will look to perform in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, as he seeks to impress the footballing world with his box of flicks and tricks.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored