There was shock when Pep Guardiola granted the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer and there has been a lot of shock since the Manchester City manager sanctioned the loan move of Joao Cancelo just one day before the winter transfer window shut, so will it end up being the right decision?
City may not bring in another left-back before transfer deadline, so they could be left with Sergio Gomez as their only natural option. Even Cancelo was playing in a makeshift role, so Guardiola has taken a big risk letting him leave, even if it was the right decision based on his conduct.
Cancelo’s exit will create a problem in defence, as Gomez doesn’t have Guardiola’s trust, so it will likely be Nathan Ake keeping his place on the left and Aymeric Laporte providing backup.
Vital Man City previously wondered if Kalvin Phillips could operate in the position, as he’s not getting games in midfield. That notion doesn’t seem so foolish now, but Pep is a hard manager to predict.
There is the slim possibility of Josh Wilson-Esbrand being recalled from his loan at Coventry City to provide another option on the left, but Guardiola is most likely to change his formation to fit the squad.
He’s had Phil Foden and Cole Palmer play as wing-backs, but that would surely be a last resort. For now, Ake should stay on the left while Kyle Walker attempts to wrestle his starting place back from Rico Lewis.
It’s not the backline supporters expected City to end up with, but they are at least getting results.
In other news, Pep Guardiola taking big risk allowing shocking Man City transfer
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