Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing experienced Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, before the transfer window closes in a few days. The 28-year-old full-back has been with the Dutch side since 2018, having made the switch from the Argentinian side, Independiente.
Manchester Evening News have reported that City will have to pay £22.7 million to sign Tagliafico from Ajax. The Argentine has just two years remaining on his current deal with the Dutch club.
Tagliafico has made 101 appearances for Ajax in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and making 15 assists in his four seasons with the club. The 28-year-old has also played 25 times for his national team since debuting in 2017.
Nicolas Tagliafico to Manchester City – The player Pep Guardiola needs?
Manchester City have been plagued by defensive issues in the last year or son, and things escalated in the recent hiding they received at the hands of Leicester City.
City manager Pep Guardiola, has already signed two central defenders in the current transfer window, bringing in Ruben Dias from Benfica and Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. Ake played in the loss to the Foxes, and it’s quite clear to see that there needs to be more done defensively.
One area that has been an issue for a long time for Guardiola at City is at left-back. The Catalan manager has used many players in that position, but none have been able to nail down a spot in the starting XI, or inspire confidence. Benjamin Mendy, who was brought in for a whopping transfer fee of £52 million, has had injury issues while also costing the side on numerous occasions due to his defensive lapses.
Mendy is good going forward, but has been terrible defensively. Nicolas Tagliafico could offer Guardiola something different at the back, as well as going forward.
The Argentine is a tenacious player, who is quick, has excellent work-rate, and the ability to maraud from back to front on the left side.
Tagliafico has the ability to spot danger and make quick interceptions, while he has also shown that he can put in a strong tackle as well. In the 2019-20 Eredivisie season, he averaged 2.5 tackles per game, as well as 1.7 interceptions.
The 28-year-old is good with the ball at his feet, stringing together passes to build attacks, while also dribbling forward to put in teasing crosses into the box. Tagliafico could be part of a new-look City backline, alongside the likes of Laporte and new signing Dias, who could be much stronger defensively than previous City teams.
