Pep Guardiola has identified the defense as the weakest point of his citizen machinery and has already set himself a priority objective that is none other than José María Giménez, defender of Atlético de Madrid who, according to The Sunday Times, would not leave the Wanda Metropolitano for less than 120 million euros. Overwhelmed in the Premier by the almost invincible Liverpool and eliminated from the FA Cup by Arsenal, Manchester City, who will face Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League in just two weeks, He must carefully analyze his season and take advantage of the fact that the TAS has lifted a sanction that could have thrown the project of the Sheik of Abu Dhabi overboard.
On paper, the citizens have conceded 12 more goals in Premier than in the previous season, the same in which they were much closer to the goal in Europe and raised the national cups. The hole in the defense, however, goes much further, and that is that the departure of Kompany has not been replaced by a defense of guarantees. Neither Fernandinho, more patch than real defense, nor Otamendi nor Stones, who has been very disappointed with his performance, seem to convince Pep for the future.
That is why the Catalan would have noticed Giménez, who at 25 years old seems like a perfect bet, although his price, if those 120 million euros are real, may be exorbitant taking into account the current economic situation of football. The other galactic option would be that of Koulibaly, but, at 29 and after a disappointing season, it seems difficult for Naples to get the more than 100 million that he asked for last summer. TOothers, Diego Carlos, from Sevilla, Nathan Ake, from Bournemouth, and Ruben Dias, captain of Benfica, could also enter the shortlist of possible.