Despite Pep Guardiola having five central defenders in Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake, and three right-backs in Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Rico Lewis, Frank McAvennie believes Ben White might be a transfer target for Manchester City in the future.
He told Football Insider: “He has made that right-back position his own at Arsenal and I do not see why he would not go to City. (White) is at the stage in his career that he is kicking on and wanting to win trophies.
“He will want to win things and he will look at Man City. He will need to think he can make that position his own at City.” White has made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, impressing as a makeshift right-back, but his two preferred roles are positions City have enough depth in.
Stones, Dias and Akanji are right-sided centre-backs who aren’t likely to be sold any time soon, so Guardiola need not add a fourth. And with City planning to offer Lewis a new deal, they don’t require another fullback either. Akanji and Stones have operated in the role this season too, so they’re not short of options.
If White was as effective playing on the left, that might be a different story. Plus, McAvennie hasn’t considered whether the England international wants to leave an Arsenal side currently sitting eight points clear of City in the Premier League. Such a move makes little sense for both parties.
In other news, Kalvin Phillips has a difficult decision to make in January
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