With Benjamin Mendy suspended by Manchester City as he awaits trial for alleged sex crimes, the Sky Blues are left with Oleksandr Zinchenko as the only natural left-back at Pep Guardiola’s disposal.
Joao Cancelo has been operating on the left in a makeshift role, but Mike McGrath of the Telegraph says City are lining up a long-term solution to the problem – Abner Vinicius.
The 21-year-old joined Club Athletico Paranaense on a five-year deal from Ponte Preta and has gone on to make 90 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals with 10 assists.
Abner has been a regular at the Estádio Joaquim Américo Guimarães and has impressed so much that he’s been called up to the Brazilian national team, so his future looks bright.
McGrath says City are really ‘looking at’ the defender after scouts ‘watched’ him in South America, but it remains to be seen if that interest will translate into a bid before the January transfer window shuts.
Abner will be one of many players on their wishlist, so City will likely exhaust all their options before bids are lodged. They’re hoping the next signing in this position will be their last for some time, so they have to get it right.