Manchester City are plotting a move for Leicester City fullback Ben Chilwell, who could cost around £50 million, according to reports.
The Sun claims that Pep Guardiola is once again keen to bolster his full-back department, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Chilwell being listed as potential candidates.
Chilwell, in particular, has impressed with his consistently commendable performances and could be on the verge of a big money move in the summer.
Ben Chilwell: A wise choice by Guardiola?
Just a couple of seasons after spending over £100m on the defensive duo of Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy, Manchester City are once again struggling with their lack of resources in the fullback department this campaign.
The lack of options in the left-back position, in particular, has been a problem. And even though Mendy is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most gifted fullbacks, the Frenchman has seen his Manchester City career marred by injuries.
Other options include Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko, none of who are labelled as an out and out fullback. Therefore, the addition of Ben Chilwell would make a lot of sense for the Citizens.
The Leicester City star is known for his excellent intuition, which allows him to make crucial interceptions on both ends of the pitch.
Unlike Mendy, he’s a solid defender, who has averaged over one tackle and 3.5 interceptions per game. He is also much more effective in the air, having won 3.3 headed duels per game this season.
While it can be argued that Chilwell may not boast the same pace and athleticism as Mendy, the 22-year-old is much more reserved when it comes to his positioning and can offer additional support in the attack by availing himself as a passing option in the final third.
This tunes in well with Guardiola’s Juego de posicion style of play which literally translates to “positional play” with an added focus on retaining possession. And Chilwell’s excellent positioning coupled with his accurate passing can help City attain better balance on the left.
However, despite his qualities, the English international may still be regarded as Mendy’s understudy, although his addition will certainly help Guardiola in his squad rotation.
And this potentially makes Manchester City a risky choice for the player, especially now when he has managed to emerge as one of the league’s top-rated fullbacks. He is, nonetheless, a viable option for City as they look to continue their dominance in the Premier League under Guardiola.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
