An alternative to Florian Wirtz emerges for Manchester City but is he what they need? | OneFootball

The interest of Manchester City in signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen this summer is well documented. Dean Jones has previously reported for GIVEMESPORT that City are intending to pull out all of the stops to sign the German international this summer. But if City can’t sign the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker they will need to find an alternative to signing Wirtz. Who that could be remains to be seen.

A new report from David Ornstein for the Athletic indicates that alongside Wirtz, Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is a potential summer transfer target for Manchester City. Furthermore, Ornstein reports that Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz are looming as two targets for City to replace Kevin De Bruyne. Ornstein further reports that Manchester City are yet to decide if they’ll seek to sign a like-for-like replacement for De Bruyne or look to strengthen other areas of their attack. Either option is in play as they look to add creativity to Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Morgan Gibbs-White is a fine player, but could Manchester City find what they’re seeking in a Villarreal playmaker?

Morgan Gibbs-White is a fine player. He has played a key role in Nottingham Forest’s impressive season. Gibbs-White is a player who is a creative force for his team with his eye for a pass and his ability to drive forward with the ball from midfield. He can also score important goals and he also has leadership qualities. If Manchester City do need to seek an alternative target to Florian Wirtz, Gibbs-White could be it.

But is Gibbs-White the player that Manchester City need? He is a fine player, but the way Forest plays isn’t in any way similar to the tactics Pep Guardiola employs. The question for me is does Gibbs-White have the technical and tactical ability to slot into Pep Guardiola’s squad? Perhaps he does but there may be an alternative to the England international for Manchester City to chase if they can’t sign Florian Wirtz.

That player is Villareal playmaker Alex Baena. Spanish publication Fichajes has previously reported that City do have an interest in signing Baena. As a player, he looks to be a player better suited to a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

In a team that is screaming out for creativity, Alex Baena would fill that void for Manchester City. He is a creative force for Villarreal. Baena can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder. What stands out is his ability to play an inclisive through ball and pick out a pass. He also provides quality service from wide areas, and each of those abilities is something that Pep Guardiola’s squad is screaming out for. Perhaps he can be an alternative to Florian Wirtz if City can’t sign the highly coveted German international.

Summary.

David Ornstein names Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White as potential targets for Manchester City to replace Kevin De Bruyne if that’s a route they pursue. Gibbs-White is a fine player, but he may not be the best fit for Pep Guardiola’s squad, given how City play in comparison to Nottingham Forest. If Manchester City can’t land Florian Wirtz in the summer, perhaps Alex Baena would be a better fit for Pep Guardiola’s squad based on how he plays, and his skill set is something that appears suited to playing for Manchester City. City’s chase for more attacking options is a story to monitor. Florian Wirtz, Morgan Gibbs-White and Alex Baena could all fit into City’s squad. But perhaps Wirtz and Baena are better fits than Gibbs-White.