Reigning English Premier League Champions, Manchester City, have been heavily linked with Inter centre-back Milan Skriniar as they look to continue efforts to strengthen the core of their defence.
But it seems Inter have made it quite clear that they are not ready to let go of a player who has been so crucial for them in recent times and therefore have slapped an €80m price tag on the Slovakian.
Antonio Conte’s side will not listen to any offers below that price tag according to reports from Sempre Inter but it is a well-known fact that Manchester City are financially strong enough to meet the requirements of the Italian giants.
Pep Guardiola is clearly impressed with Milan Skriniar and is after his signature since the January transfer window as he has rightly identified the heart of the defence as one of City’s major weaknesses.
Is Milan Skriniar worth the fee?
Milan Skriniar is a brilliant option in the centre-back position and there are no two ways about it. But the Slovakian is certainly not at the same level as the Virgil van Dijk(s) or players like Thiago Silva, John Terry, Raphael Varane, Georgio Chiellini etc. who would easily justify a price tag of €80m in their prime.
The fact is Milan Skriniar is just 25, yet to reach his prime and such a huge price tag is unquestionably high. But Inter are very well aware of City’s defensive woes and also their financial ability which is exactly the reason why they have set the bar so high for Skriniar’s suitors.
On the other hand, while the tag is surely high for a still-developing talent like Milan Skriniar, from a City point of view and analyzing the desperate situation they are in due to the falling levels of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones, the price should not be a concern for the Citizen’s Spanish boss if he has indeed zeroed in on the player.
Skriniar is a strictly decent option at such a price tag because of the inflated market in recent years but could be easily allowed to take the field with Aymeric Laporte at the heart of the defence given the woeful form of the other options. The Slovakian is also just the kind of defender who fits Guardiola’s system to play out from the back as short passes are one of his main strengths.
But then again, he is not a kind of player who would do good in aerial duels or is someone with a lot of physical strength. Keeping in mind the type of coach Guardiola is, who is not particularly fond of nurturing that aspect of defenders, those weaknesses are unlikely to turn into strengths anytime soon.
There is also the matter of City’s appeal against their European ban and the outcome of that will surely have bearing on the extent of business the Sky Blues will be involved in and also their lure in the pandemic afflicted transfer market.