Have Manchester City narrowed it down to a choice of two to fill the number ten role? | OneFootball

With Kevin De Bruyne set to leave Manchester City this summer, there is the sense that they simply must sign a creative or attacking midfielder this summer. In fact, that was a pressing need to be addressed in Pep Guardiola’s squad irrespective of De Bruyne’s future. For that particular role there now appears to be two main targets for the world champions. It appears that Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz or RB Leipzig’s creative midfielder Xavi Simons are City’s main targets. Either player would be a quality addition to the Manchester City squad.

First of all, Jack Gaughan has reported for the Daily Mail that Florian Wirtz is Manchester City’s number-one target to add creativity in the final third. He is considered a dream acquisition for City, Jack Gaughan further reports. Gaughan adds that City are the front-runners to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. I believe City intend to play Gibbs-White as a number eight rather than as a number ten. That would see Wirtz as the number ten City crave as per Gaughan’s report.

Secondly, Dean Jones has reported for GIVEMESPORT that Manchester City consider Xavi Simons as one of the top attacking midfielders that could be available this summer. Furthermore, Jones reports that City view the Dutch international as an alternative to Florian Wirtz. Jones also reports that City have been tracking Xavi Simons since 2021. Lastly, Jones adds that Manchester United also have an interest in signing the RB Leipzig attacking midfielder. But they are unlikely to move for the Dutch international as per Jones’ report.

Either of Florian Wirtz or Xavi Simons would be a fine signing for Manchester City.

If Florian Wirtz or Xavi Simons are now Manchester City’s priority targets for the number ten role either player could prove to be a quality addition to Pep Guardiola’s squad. Neither player is a like-for-like replacement for Kevin De Bruyne. That type of a player doesn’t exist. But what they are is special talents who would bring their own style of play to the role. Wirtz is arguably regarded as the premier young attacking midfielder in Europe. He’d be a tremendous addition to the Manchester City squad if he decides the Etihad is where his future lies. Xavi Simons is a slightly different type of player to Wirtz but he is technically superb and there is a versatility to his play the could prove to be a valuable asset for Pep Guardiola to utilise.

But looking at how Manchester City could add a premier number ten to their squad either player would fit in nicely at the Etihad. But if City could sign one of Wirtz or Xavi Simons and a player like Morgan Gibbs-White they’d add exactly what they lack in the final third and across the midfield in two signings. It now remains to be seen who Manchester City will pursue this summer. But it is beginning to feel that they are aiming to sign Florian Wirtz or Xavi Simons to play as a number 10 and add more creativity to their squad.