Manchester City

Manchester City

Premier League • England

Manchester City enter negotiations for attack-minded left-back Sergio Gomez after Arsenal link

Sergio Gomez playing for Anderlecht

Manchester City have turned their attention to Sergio Gomez in their hunt for a new left-back, it has been revealed.

According to a report by David Ornstein for The Athletic, following on from claims in Belgium, the Premier League champions are in talks to sign the Spaniard from Anderlecht. After ending their pursuit of Marc Cucurella, Manchester City are now looking at other left-backs.

Gomez is a player they have scouted in detail. Now, they have begun communicating with his current employers in Belgium.

That said, they see Gomez as one for the future. The report leaves open the idea of a more senior recruit arriving.

But Manchester City have a belief that a deal for 21-year-old Gomez could be beneficial. It is not clear whether they would use him in their first team straight away or send him out on loan.

Gomez has enough senior experience, though, to justify the faith City could show in him. The Barcelona academy graduate was used sparingly by his next takers Borussia Dortmund. But he enjoyed a productive loan spell with Huesca between 2019 and 2021 before becoming an Anderlecht regular.

Now, Manchester City could provide him with the next step in his career.

It has been reported in Belgium by Het Nieuwsblad, prior to Ornstein’s report, that Gomez will be training separately from the Anderlecht squad to avoid any risk of an injury that could derail the move.

There were also claims, via Voetbal Nieuws, of an asking price between €15m and €20m (£12.5m to £16.7m). It means Gomez is going to be a cheaper target than Cucurella would have been.

City were only willing to go up to £40m for Cucurella, but Brighton wanted £50m. The Seagulls now look likelier to receive such a fee from Chelsea.

Therefore, City are looking elsewhere and will be hoping to make progress with Gomez. Anderlecht will be making a profit on the attack-minded full-back if they do cash in; he only cost them €2m to sign from Dortmund.

Interestingly, Gomez was linked with Arsenal before the Gunners signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from City. Now, Pep Guardiola’s side could fill the void with that alternative idea.

Sergio Gomez could be good buy for Man City

Gomez is certainly a player of potential. Not many can say they have been on the books of clubs like Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund before the age of 21.

Getting regular gametime with Anderlecht has been beneficial. The Belgian side could now capitalise on how they have nurtured him.

Moving to the Premier League would be a new experience for Gomez. But he has not been afraid to try new footballing cultures at his young age.

And given that he can also play as an attacking midfielder, he could end up being a replacement for Zinchenko.

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