Finding a new creative player to complete the squad for 2023/24 - Paqueta, Olise, Doku, and more.

Image courtesy of talksport.co.uk

Is there anything more satisfying than an overnight transfer rumour exploding into life? When I went to sleep on Tuesday 8th August, City were pondering over a bid for Michael Olise, at around £35 million. And, of course, many City fans were criticising the board for leaving the club with a lack of creative options, and taking it out on our current options, mainly Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.

When I woke up on Wednesday 9th August, I found that City's interest in Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta had not only emerged from nowhere, but depending on which sources you listen to, City have lodged a £70 million bid, with Paqueta desperate for a move to Manchester.

When it appeared £70 million wouldn't be enough for West Ham to part with their number 11, I expected City to close all talks and move onto their next target.

The board have shown in the past that they will not be drawn into overpaying for a player, with Declan Rice, Harry Maguire, Marc Cucurella and Harry Kane all recent examples of players City have walked away from signing due to a transfer fee too high for the club to be willing to pay.

After the departure of Riyad Mahrez, City desperately need another creative player, one who can act as a source of goals, and create chances for Erling Haaland. Kevin de Bruyne's injury against Burnley, which could well keep him out for a while, just adds to that requirement.

The flexibility of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva means this player can either be a winger - a like for like replacement for Mahrez - or a central midfielder, which would see either Foden or Bernardo, or possibly both, act as cover out wide.

I feel it is almost a certainty that City will get at least one, and that will see a youth player, Cole Palmer, James McAtee or Oscar Bobb, leave on loan, to create room in the squad.

Another curveball thrown on Thursday 10th August is that City might well get 2 players, with negotiations with young winger Jeremy Doku building up some steam. The Belgian will likely cost between €50-60 million, which will be a record transfer for his club, Rennes.

And then there's Michael Olise, the Crystal Palace player who is probably the closest player to Mahrez in world football. He has a reported release clause of £35 million, and I believe the only thing stopping City from attempting to get a deal done as soon as possible is Olise's current injury, which may well keep him out until October, preventing him from playing for a while after joining the Blues.

And it's not completely out of the question that City will sign someone whose name hasn't been mentioned yet. Manuel Akanji had never been linked with City, not until a few days before the transfer window shut in August 2022.

Fast forward a year, and Akanji is one of City's most important players. He was a huge part of the squad as City won the treble (not forgetting he won the real prize, the "Signing of the Season" award in the prestigious 2 Silvas End of Season Awards Ceremony)

We can't forget that Akanji's original role in the squad was as emergency cover, to make sure City were never left short at the back, like they were in the 2019/20 season. So who knows what role City's new signing could play, as they look to win the lot again.

The 2 Silvas Blog analyses the creative options City are linked to, plus 2 more players whom City may choose to sign before the transfer window shuts on September 1st:

Lucas Paqueta

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By far the most likely option on the list, and the deal City are currently confident in negotiating, Lucas Paqueta wants to be a Manchester City player next season, and West Ham are resigned to losing him.

It is reported that the Hammers want £95 million for their new number 10, a price I believe City will refuse to pay. However, given the huge success of the Josko Gvardiol deal, where Txiki Begiristain and the rest of the City board were able to agree a deal with Leipzig for less than their asking price, I am confident City will be able to pull this feat off again.

Paqueta is exactly the type of player City need at this point in time; with Kevin de Bruyne injured, City need a creative player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and provide direct service for Erling Haaland.

The 25 year old shows flashes of David Silva in his game, by the way he turns sharply and controls the ball tightly with his magnificent left foot. Plus, he loves a short, slipped through ball to an onrushing attacker in much the same way City's former 21 did - just look at his assist for Jarrod Bowen in the UEFA Conference League final last season.

I believe, for a price tag of less than £90 million, Paqueta will be an excellent signing for City, given he fits the system better than either Declan Rice or Moises Caicedo, who have moved with a higher price tag this window.

Paqueta is much more of a creative threat than Rice and Caicedo, and can be a key part of City's system for many years to come.

Jeremy Doku

Image courtesy of goal.com

For every City fan who craves a pacy, direct creative winger, they should be jumping on the Jeremy Doku bandwagon, which is gathering momentum amongst the fanbase.

The young Belgian comes highly recommended by De Bruyne, an international teammate and, most importantly, a man who I'd trust to give good analysis on a player.

Doku is a raw talent, but a talent nonetheless, and will provide City a different, more direct option. This is beginning to become a popular opinion, but I can really see Pep Guardiola model the 21 year old into a Raheem Sterling-esque player.

He's a skilful dribbler, and makes good decisions in final third areas. His goal and assist output could improve, but that isn't a big concern, given Jack Grealish and Bernardo have the same problem.

He'll need to mature as a footballer first, of course. He can take lessons from Grealish in how to control the game with the ball, and knowing when to play it simple and when to switch it up and play more aggressively.

But, for a reported fee of around €50 million, the signing of Doku can be one for the present and the future.

Michael Olise

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In world football, there is no player more similar to Mahrez than Michael Olise. With a release clause of just £35 million, it'd seem to be the perfect transfer.

Olise acts as a creative outlet; he's happy to hold his width, and doesn't need to drift inside to get involved in the game. He is an excellent dribbler of the ball, and is one of few left footed players in world football who is comfortable crossing from deep with his right foot.

His first touch isn't as majestic as Mahrez's, but no-one's is. He makes up for it with his pace and versatility, something he has over the Algerian. The 21 year old is comfortable on either flank, and I'm sure Guardiola could find another way to make use of him too, perhaps as a centre midfielder, or a false 9.

There are only a few concerns with this deal. One of them is that Chelsea remain interested in Olise, with the Londoners more likely to be able to give him more guaranteed minutes than he'd get at City.

Also, if he signed, the Frenchman wouldn't solve any initial issues in helping to provide cover for De Bruyne, considering the fact he is currently suffering with the same hamstring injury as the 32 year old.

According to reports, it'd likely be October by the time he's fit, and, unless De Bruyne's hamstring tear is particularly bad, he'll hopefully be back and in and around the first team by then.

However, the signing of Olise will be one for the future, as well as the present. Even if he can't contribute in the first 2 months or so, his contributions in the rest of his spell at City would be worth it, assuming, of course, that Guardiola works his coaching magic once again.

Olise would be a realistic signing, and would slot into the system seamlessly. In terms of a direct replacement for Mahrez, he would tick every box, which would certainly help to soften the tough blow after his departure.

Khvica Kvaratskheila

This transfer would be a pipe dream at best, for now at least. But just how good would it be to see Khvica Kvaratskheila in a Manchester City shirt?

The 22 year old is one of the biggest talents in the world, but he was a complete unknown a year ago, after he signed for Napoli from Dinamo Batumi in 2022, to replace departing club legend Lorenzo Insigne.

Since then, he has proven himself to not only be a sensational player, taking the heart of Napoli fans with his performances, which earned him player of the season, but he has also shown he holds all the necessities to thrive in a Pep Guardiola system.

If Olise is the closest player to Mahrez in football at the moment, then you can certainly say the same about the man affectionately dubbed "Kvaradona" with Grealish.

Everything about them is the same, from the way they draw players in, to the technique used when crossing the ball - both players even choose to hold their socks around their ankles. However, I doubt there'd be room for both of them in one starting 11.

Unless, of course, we see Grealish play in central midfield, or Kvaratskheila play on the right. But, as it stands, there isn't a feasible way to give them both the playing time they'd deserve.

And of course, there is the fact that Napoli and City aren't on the best terms, with the Partenopei notoriously tough negotiations. They will want €100 million - at the very least - for their star man, a price City might not be willing to pay, particularly if they sign 2 players.

It could happen one day; the Georgian is still a young player, who can develop further under the management of Rudi Garcia at the Italian champions, and will soon be an ideal City transfer target. But, for now, this transfer will not be a plausible option for City to explore in the transfer market.

Eberechi Eze

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There hasn't been even a sniff of a rumour, but Eberechi Eze is a player who I'd love to see at Manchester City. Silky and confident on the ball, Eze is the perfect player for the Blues, due to a number of promising factors.

He is versatile; capable of playing on either wing, or as a central midfielder, meaning he could provide competition for Grealish and the central midfield players. He can also provide extra quality in the set piece areas, and will not expect to start every week.

I believe he would be an excellent signing for City, due to his excellent attitude and obvious talent, but I wouldn't like to see him and Paqueta arrive.

For me, that would leave City's midfield too stocked, with Guardiola needing to find room for De Bruyne, Kovacic, Bernardo, Paqueta, Foden, Grealish, a potential new winger signing and Eze for just 5 places. The Catalan has always preferred to operate with a small squad, and we should stick to those wishes.

But, a deal for Eze is one that could be explored if the Paqueta transfer falls through. I would estimate Crystal Palace would want a fee of at least £70 million for him, which is within City's price range. There are no rumours, but it is a transfer I would like to see.

Conclusion

City have a wide range of options they could explore. They need at least one other player for now, to compensate for the loss of Mahrez.

If I had to plump for one player now, taking multiple factors into account, I would like to see City sign Paqueta, unless the fee rises to more than £95 million, in which case City should walk away and sign Eze instead.

If City sign another player this window, I would opt for Doku over Olise, due to the Frenchman's current injury issues not really solving a current problem.

However, my preferred option out of everything would be to sign Paqueta now and wait until the summer transfer window of 2024, and put all effort into signing Kvaratskheila from Napoli. Adding another world class player to the mix, who has the attitude and talent to thrive, would only help take City to new heights.

It'd see Grealish shift positions to central midfield, and then Foden, Bernardo or both moved out wide, but I believe it'd be a sacrifice worth making to bring Napoli's number 77 to the club.

But, whatever happens, I will continue to back the club, and the board, that has delivered City so much success in recent seasons.