You mention a centre back who can play left back, how about Nathan Ake. Technically good and is classed as homegrown if I’m not mistaken due to his time at Chelsea. Would be able to cover the possible vacant spot left by Otamendi and help out at left back if needed.Going back to what Pep said a few months ago about us not being able to afford another season where our first choice left back is always injured, at first sight it would seem we're definitely going to go for a left back, but that was before Zin emerged as a genuine contender. His current form is excellent, he keeps possession well, his decision making is quick and passing accurate. His defending is questionable at times but I think he has done enough to be given a chance.
As far as how it affects our transfers, priorities change, so with Zin's emergence maybe Pep now considers it more important that we don't risk another season where Kev is constantly injured - if it happened this season, it can also happen next season so maybe the Bruno Fernandes rumours are true? Hard to work out what Pep's thinking though, I read something the other day that he said Zin would have a great career 'if not at City then somewhere else' or words to that effect.
I think Delph will go and a defensive midfield will come in, maybe also a left sided centre back (Otamendi) to cover the left back position and a creative midfielder. Not sure how that would leave us with foreign spots.
I think we already have that player (Laporte) but would need cover if he had to play there. I'd hope we were setting our sights higher than Ake tbh. Maybe de Ligt, but the clever money seems to be on him going to Barca. As long as it's not Jonny Evans.You mention a centre back who can play left back, how about Nathan Ake. Technically good and is classed as homegrown if I’m not mistaken due to his time at Chelsea. Would be able to cover the possible vacant spot left by Otamendi and help out at left back if needed.
I’m pretty adamant we will miss out on De Ligt and I just don’t see who else we could be in for that is good enough to challenge the likes of Laporte and Stones. I feel if a centre back were to come in it would be a 3rd/4th choice along with Kompany as we have the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Eric Garcia coming through. As I mentioned before I feel Ake would suit this requirement and would help with the left back situation also. And no Mangala will surely never play for City again.I think we already have that player (Laporte) but would need cover if he had to play there. I'd hope we were setting our sights higher than Ake tbh. Maybe de Ligt, but the clever money seems to be on him going to Barca. As long as it's not Jonny Evans.
Having said that, I wouldn't be sure who a new centre back would be a replacement for. Are we still counting Mangala?
And no Mangala will surely never play for City again.
i don't think it's plausible for there to be a CB who plays fullback for us on occasion. The system just demands too much in the way of ball skills, passing, agility, and even crossing ability at times. Anyone who is good enough at those things to be at our standard is probably playing as a midfielder or winger/fullback already. Laporte is easily one of the best passers I've seen at CB and even he looks out of place when we shift him out there. Walker is maybe another example and he really stifles us at times because he just doesn't have all the ball skills and passing range necessary. It's a really unique position the way Pep sets it up i think it's a fool's errand to try to identify CBs to play there.
Mbabu is already off to Wolfsburg. Of that lot I'd only take Calabria, Hakimi and Grimaldo. Barreca can't even make the bench at Newcastle.Right backs
Kevin Mbabu
Valentino Lazaro
Rick Karsdorp
Benjamin Henrichs
Davide Calabria
Kenny Tete
Achraf Hakimi
Josha Vagnoman
Joshua Kimmich
Left Backs
Gian-Luca Itter
Josh Tymon
Juan Miranda
Alex Grimaldo
Antonio Barreca