Manchester City appear to be the front-runners to sign an England international who’d improve their midfield | OneFootball

With the midfield being one area that Manchester City must improve this summer they do appear in need of a certain type of player. Obviously, any player who plays in a Pep Guardiola side will have to have exceptional technical ability. That’s a no-brainer. There is also a school of thought that the City midfield could also do with more energy and athleticism.

If Manchester City could sign a midfielder who is technically sound and can get around the pitch, it would add a new element to their play. At times, City’s ageing midfield has been overrun in games this season, and if that issue is fixed this summer, Pep Guardiola’s side will be stronger for it.

On that front, Jack Gaughan has reported for the Daily Mail that Manchester City are regarded as the front-runner to sign Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. Furthermore, Gaughan reports that Manchester City have acknowledged that they need more energy in midfield. Gaughan further reports that Florian Wirtz is Manchester City’s dream signing this summer. But he addresses a different need to the one that Gibbs-White could potentially fill as per Gaughan’s report.

Manchester City could utilise Morgan Gibbs-White as a number 8.

Where Morgan Gibbs-White would fit into the Manchester City squad is an interesting topic to consider. For Nottingham Forest, he is typically employed as a number ten. But Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactical set-up is nothing like the tactics Pep Guardiola employs. For me, Gibbs-White could slot into the City squad as a number eight. Given that Pep Guardiola’s side typically dominates possession a player like Gibbs-White could add another dimension to City’s midfield play.

If Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan leave City this summer they’ll need to be replaced. That’s where I see Gibbs-White fitting into Pep Guardiola’s squad. If City signs a quality number ten, you could play Rodri in his role, Gibbs-White or Nico alongside him and anyone of Foden, or a Wirtz or Xavi Simons, for example, further ahead of them. That would add more energy to Manchester City’s midfield. You’d also add the superb technical ability of Gibbs-White to the equation.

Manchester City moving for Morgan Gibbs-White this summer does make sense. He’d add energy and quality to their midfield. It wouldn’t be an easy transfer to complete based on how important the England international is to Nottingham Forest. But you do feel that Gibbs-White could add what City are desperate for so it’s easy to see why Manchester City could be pushing hard to sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder.