The waiting is over for Manchester City regarding their hunt for a new left-back this summer after the club has reportedly come to verbal terms with RSC Anderlecht for Spanish U21 international Sergio Gómez.
As reported by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, City will part ways with a fee bordering on €15m (£12.5m) for the 21-year-old left-back in the wake of missing out on a deal for Brighton’s Marc Cucurella after the Spanish international moved to Chelsea last week.
Excl: Sergio Gómez to Manchester City, here we go! Verbal agreement reached with Anderlecht. Fee will be more than €10m, closer to €15m – to be signed soon. 🚨🔵 #MCFC
Sergio has good chances to be part of City team – otherwise, he will be loaned out to La Liga side Girona. pic.twitter.com/HHG1GvIOpL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2022
Despite City being able to utilize João Cancelo at left-back, the Portuguese international is at his best on the right side of the defense, which leaves City with no natural left-back in the senior setup.
It was reported earlier today that the Premier League champions were also eyeing a possible move for Borussia Dortmund’s Raphäel Guerreiro, who has entered the last year of his contract in the Ruhr valley at the Westfalenstadion.
A move for Guerreiro, 28, could still possibly be on the table for City despite their move for Gómez, who reportedly will be given a chance to prove his worth before the club considers possibly shipping him out on loan to fellow City Football Group outfit Girona FC in La Liga.
EUPEN, BELGIUM – JULY 31: Sergio Gomez of Anderlecht during the Jupiler Pro League match between KAS Eupen and Anderlecht at Kehrweg-Stadion on July 31, 2021 in Eupen, Belgium (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Orange Pictures) 2GAR1YT EUPEN, BELGIUM – JULY 31: Sergio Gomez of Anderlecht during the Jupiler Pro League match between KAS Eupen and Anderlecht at Kehrweg-Stadion on July 31, 2021 in Eupen, Belgium (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Orange Pictures)
Gómez is coming off a highly influential 2021-22 season in Brussels under the watchful eye of now Burnley manager Vincent Kompany, with the former RSD Espanyol and Barcelona academy product shining in the Jupiler Pro League after a two-year loan spell at SD Huesca in the wake of failing to crack into the senior setup at Borussia Dortmund in the long term.
With Gómez’s tender age, it is plausible that City could still send him out on loan even if he does impress, but it would hardly be the first time that Pep Guardiola put faith in a young player who makes the grade regarding his tactical and technical requirements.
For a creative wingback that is capable of being deployed as a left winger and also in midfield, Gómez certainly fits the Guardiola mold to the ground and could still genuinely be in with a chance to stay in the senior setup at the Etihad this season.