Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City started their Premier League campaign with a consummate 2-0 win against West Ham United last weekend away from home at the London Stadium, with former Borussia Dortmund starlet Erling Haaland hitting a brace in his league debut.
But one player absent from the City squad that started the season on the front foot was Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella.
The former Brighton standout concluded a move to Chelsea last week after it was largely expected that he would join Man City, but Chelsea under aggressive new co-owner Todd Boehly stole a march on the Citizens and added the 24-year-old to the senior setup under Thomas Tuchel.
Missing out on Cucurella compounded the situation after the club lost Oleksandr Zinchenko when the Ukrainian opted for first-choice minutes at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, with City now eyeing 28-year-old Portuguese international left-back Raphäel Guerreiro according to reports from Sky Sports.
BREAKING: Manchester City are interested in signing Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1qnFKc1tir
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 10, 2022
Guerreiro, currently valued at €25m (£21m) according to Transfermarkt, is in the last year of his deal in the Ruhr valley and could present a very affordable backup option for a player of his quality and experience.
First breaking through the ranks at SM Caen before starring for Brittany outfit FC Lorient for three seasons, which resulted in his move to the Westfalenstadion in 2016.
His tactical versatility would serve in good stead under Guardiola, who has continued to bring players into the fold at City that are viable tactical options in multiple positions.
Foto: Moritz Muller
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Borussia Dortmund – Borussia Monchengladbach
20.02.2022, Fussball, BundesligaSaison 2021 2022
Foto: Moritz Muller
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The issue, however, is to sell Guerreiro now would leave Dortmund bare at left-back after German international Nico Schulz has been embroiled with allegations of domestic violence, and has been given time away from the club by director Sebastian Kehl to deal with potential legal proceedings.
That would leave Edin Terzić with just 17-year-old Tim Rothe as the only true left-back in the senior squad, though Dortmund could potentially turn to Croatian international Borna Sosa after TSG Hoffenheim’s David Raum moved to RB Leipzig earlier this window.
As for City, acquiring a left-back would seem prudent despite João Cancelo capable in the role with Kyle Walker on the other flank, if for nothing else, to keep squad depth at a credible level to compete across an arduous campaign in all competitions.
