The Manchester club should target a midfielder with proven Premier League experience, according to former Chelsea midfielder
Former Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda has suggested three possible candidates for Manchester City to replace outgoing midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne, who joined City in 2015, has firmly established himself as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history. Across nine seasons, the Belgian has registered 108 goals and 177 assists in 418 appearances.
He was the key piece in the City midfield that bossed Premier League teams around, winning six out of 10 league titles in an absolutely dominant period. But with age and recurring injuries catching up to the 32-year-old, City are now considering life without their iconic playmaker.
Speaking to Racing Tipster, Malouda said that City will “really struggle to replace De Bruyne”.
“I don’t think City had prepared well enough for him reaching the end of his time at the Etihad,” said Malouda. “The squad is overcrowded in some places but not ready to replace him.”
The former Chelsea midfielder then pointed out three players City could sign in the summer, including Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, and Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans.
Among the names floated, Wirtz may be the most high-profile talent, having helped lead Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten domestic season under Xabi Alonso. However, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has a host of suitors. With Bayern Munich, who have an incredible pull in Germany, also reportedly interested in securing his services this summer, a move to England may be unlikely. That leaves Gibbs-White and Tielemans as more realistic alternatives.
“City’s scouts can find treasures in a host of countries, but on European soil, Gibbs-White and Wirtz are the most obvious choices to replace Kevin De Bruyne,” said Malouda.
For the Frenchman, Tielemans stands out due to his experience in English football. “I would go for the Belgian player, Youri Tielemans, who is at Aston Villa. I think in the midfield at Manchester City, they need the kind of player he is.”
