Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been looking high and low for a new midfield dictator.

In the summer plenty of media were linking the Premier Legaue champions with a move for Italian international Jorginho, The Guardian even suggested that a deal was close. Then Chelsea stepped in and signed the former Napoli man.

Recently via Manchester Evening News, Ajax young midfielder Frenkie de Jong was linked heavily with a move to Man City. According to The Sun, it now seems as though the Dutch internationalist has instead decided to join Ligue 1 champions PSG.

With Fernandinho not getting any younger and with Ilkay Gundogan having major injury issues, you can see why Pep is so determined to bring in another midfielder who can help control games from the engine room.

It might be worthwhile for the City coach to look at Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves.

The Portuguese midfielder has had a great start to life in the English Premier League. His passing success stats are averaging at around 84% (from Whoscored) and Guardiola would want that to be higher but it would be easier when playing alongside Bernardo Silva, David Silva and the like.

Neves never seems to hide from the ball, he makes on average 57.6 passes per league game and that’s more than Gundogan.

Ruben is also very intelligent and that allows him to make around two interceptions per game. He also makes around 2.3 tackles in midfield positions. His defensive stats have been better that Fernandinho’s, so far this season.

The Portuguese internationalist also possess great vision and can hit great long passes or excellent through balls for teammates. He’s the type of player that keeps the ball moving and that falls nicely into the style Pep likes to see his teams play.

Being just twenty-one years old, if Neves were to arrive at the Etihad, I’d expect Guardiola to treat Ruben like compatriot Bernardo Silva. Silva arrived last term and had to wait for his opportunities as he got used to City’s style and that of the English top flight. For me, I believe if Ruben were to sign for Man City then he’d start his Citizens career as Fernandinho’s understudy.

Will Manchester City make a move for Ruben Neves in the next transfer window? Well that remains to be seen. We are in that hectic festive period and that means clubs get linked with a host of players.

That being said, I really believe that the young Wolves midfielder would excite Pep Guardiola and he’d fit the bill if Manchester City are indeed looking for a new midfield general that can come in and help them dictate games.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo told the Express and Star that he’s not fussed by the speculation:

“We are not surprised (Neves has been linked) because there is always speculation when our players play good.

“We ignore the situations, it doesn’t affect us, the players know the reality, there is no transfers now so there is no point of talking.”

 

 

Posted on December 7th, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article