As Fernandinho’s contract runs down, Manchester City are expected to be linked with a host of defensive-midfielders as potential replacements should the 35-year-old’s deal not be renewed beyond this summer.
City are believed to have Ismael Bennacer, Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot and Douglas Luiz on their radar, but one other player they should consider is Fabian Ruiz.
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TransferMarketWeb said last week that the 24-year-old was being monitored by the Premier League leaders, but they may have Real Madrid for competition. Ruiz joined Napoli from Real Betis in 2018 and has gone on to make 116 appearances, scoring 13 goals and supplying 10 assists, so he’s barely missed any action in the last two-and-a-half years (Transfermarkt).
The Spanish international has made 21 Serie A appearances this season, amassing 1591 minutes of playing time, scoring one goal, making one assist, creating 27 chances, winning 11/17 aerial duels, making 13/17 successful dribbles, blocking 26 shots/passes/crosses, making 20 clearances, giving away only one foul every 199 minutes and averaging a tackle (34) or interception (19) every 30 minutes (WhoScored).
Ruiz makes more interceptions (one every 83.7 minutes) than Rodri (one every 87 minutes), so City should shortlist the midfielder. The Coaches’ Voice called Ruiz ‘influential’ and interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool shows how much he’s impressing, so City have the right idea.