manchester city the reigning kings of england the european champions the team that conquered it all last season are back in the market for big names because that is what champions do they do not stand still they do not get sentimental they do not say we are good enough they always look for the next big move the next upgrade the next piece of the puzzle and this summer the spotlight is on the defence more specifically the right side of the defence the flank that has been guarded for years by the relentless kyle walker the man with the jet engines in his boots the man who could run with any winger in the world the man who could
recover from anywhere who gave pep guardiola the confidence to play high to press to suffocate opponents but time catches up with everyone even the fastest of them all walker is now entering the last year of his deal at the etihad and the talk is he is ready for a new adventure he looks set to join bayern munich the german giants the serial bundesliga winners the team that want his experience and pace for their own european push so city need a replacement not just any replacement but someone who can do what walker did and maybe even more someone younger someone hungrier someone who can fit seamlessly into pep’s system someone who can defend one on one against the world’s best but also fly
forward and create danger and city think they have found him in paris achraf hakimi the moroccan superstar the psg right back with lightning in his legs and a relentless engine the man who made the world sit up and take notice during morocco’s historic world cup run in qatar when they stunned everyone to reach the semi finals hakimi was everywhere bombing forward tackling tracking back launching attacks scoring penalties with ice cold calm his country’s hero their warrior their leader but this isn’t just about the world cup hakimi has been one of the best full backs in the world for years he starred at real madrid came of age at borussia dortmund shone at inter milan helping them win serie a and now at psg he has continued to deliver even in a star studded team alongside mbappe messi and neymar his role has remained vital but reports suggest all is not well in paris according to spanish sources he is not comfortable he might be looking for a way out after all paris is a club of big egos big drama big expectations and not everyone feels at home there it is said he wants to return to real madrid to reunite with kylian
mbappe who himself is set for a galactico move but city are ready to test his resolve they have the money they have the trophies they have pep guardiola the manager many players call the best in the world and they have the need because city do not want to go into next season with a hole at right back they want continuity they want someone who can slot in and keep them at the top they have seen what walker gave them and they see hakimi as the natural successor they
know he has the pace the stamina the technique they know he can invert into midfield when needed play high and wide or tuck in and defend narrow they know he is still young with years of peak football ahead they are reportedly willing to pay big money for him they will not blink if psg demand a premium because city know the cost of not replacing key players just look at what they did to replace ilkay gundogan their captain their midfield general the man who lifted the champions league trophy he is off to barcelona city didn’t waste time they moved for mateo kovacic from chelsea for 25
million a bargain for a proven premier league and champions league winner they want no gaps in their squad no excuses they want to be ready to defend the premier league the fa cup the champions league all over again because in manchester city’s world winning once is never enough they are addicted to silverware addicted to dominance they want to become a dynasty and they know transitions are key you can’t keep the same players forever you have to evolve refresh renew pep guardiola knows this better than anyone he demands total commitment total concentration total adaptability and he loves players who can do multiple roles who can change shape mid game who can think on their feet hakimi fits that profile perfectly he is not just a right back he is a wing back a winger even an auxiliary midfielder when needed he can carry the ball thirty forty fifty yards he can deliver crosses he can score goals he can recover and slide tackle at full
speed he is the modern full back the kind pep loves and city fans are already dreaming of seeing him in sky blue linking with the likes of phil foden kevin de bruyne erling haaland they see him as the perfect piece for the puzzle but it won’t be easy psg are a tough club to negotiate with they have no financial pressure to sell they can play hardball they know city have money they know city need him and then there is real madrid the club hakimi grew up in the club he still loves if they want him he might find it hard to say no he might see it as a homecoming especially with mbappe there that’s the battle city face they have the money they have the project they have the trophies but they have to convince the player they have to sell him the dream of being part of the best team in the world under the best coach in the world and make no mistake that is what they will do they will show him videos they will explain his role they will talk about how he can be the next great city defender how he can win titles how he can become a legend they will tell him about the training about the standards about the family atmosphere about how city look after their players they will talk about how walker came from spurs and became a champion how stones was written off and became world class how ake became a star they will
promise to make him better because that is what pep does he takes good players and makes them great great players and makes them legends and city have shown they are not afraid to spend they did it with grealish with haaland with dias they will do it again if they believe in the player because they know the value of the right signing they know how small margins decide titles they know injuries can ruin a season they plan for everything and right back is now the priority walker leaving means a gap a risk city
