Manchester City head the betting on the 2020-21 Premier League title race despite finishing last season with 18 points fewer than champions Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola’s side lost six matches more than the Anfield outfit in a campaign where they were widely criticised for not signing a replacement for departed central defender and captain Vincent Kompany. If that decision cost Man City their crown, then at least their hierarchy have had the good sense to try and rectify defensive frailties by going into the market this summer.
Their answer to plugging the Kompany shaped hole in the backline is Nathan Ake, the left-footed Dutch defender just relegated with AFC Bournemouth and part of a rearguard which conceded 65 league goals. A transfer in the region of £40,000,000 to the Etihad raises eyebrows and some questions.
If Man City are bookies’ favourites to win back the Premier League title on the strength of signing a player such as Ake, then Guardiola must expect monumental improvement from him. The rumour mill suggested that Manchester United were also interested in the Chelsea academy graduate, so the Etihad club were not alone in pursuing him.
Should Ake prove to be another one that got away from Stamford Bridge, then he will be in good company with Belgium playmaker Kevin De Bruyne at City. The price-tag, admittedly not his fault, puts him in the same ballpark – figuratively and literally – as John Stones and Kyle Walker.
Not even Man City can afford to spend such sums on a mere squad player. Ake has to be the solution to their problems at the back, because pressing Brazilian veteran and holding midfielder Fernandinho into service at centre half hasn’t worked.
While Guardiola and City regaining the Premier League may be among football betting tips at 888 at pre-season odds of 21/20, there is also the matter of another Etihad great no longer being with the club. David Silva has been a magnificent servant to the Sky Blues over a decade, with the silky Spaniard replicating displays which on international duty won him consecutive editions of the Euros and the 2010 World Cup in between.
“David Silva” (CC BY 2.0) by five til noon
Man City may feel they already have enough quality in midfield and wide areas to soften this blow. It is true that there are more options further forward at Guardiola’s disposal than at the back, but consider also that Leroy Sane has returned to his native Germany with Bayern Munich.
Whether Ferran Torres follows Ake as a new arrival at the Etihad from Valencia or not, academy graduate Phil Foden is the great hope for club and country. If Guardiola, who has always spoken highly of the youngster, continues to make good on his word to give the local lad from Stockport more minutes, then he will be doing both City and England a favour.
While Liverpool have been washed in the relief of ending 30 years of hurt without a league title, Man City will come again. Only time will tell if they are worthy of the favourites tag slapped on them by bookmakers.
