Hugo Viana’s preferred profile of Manchester City’s target winger revealed | OneFootball

Manchester City are targeting a move for a new winger this summer with very specific attributes to benefit Enzo Maresca’s squad, according to a new report.

Hugo Viana has overseen one of Man City‘s busiest periods of recruitment in recent memory this summer, with the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest already done and further additions across multiple positions understood to be in progress.

A new winger now appears to be among the positions club officials are looking to address, with Enzo Maresca keen to add a specific kind of attacking profile to the squad he inherited following Pep Guardiola’s departure earlier this year.

The forward line has been a recurring talking point throughout the early stages of the window, with question marks over the long-term futures of several wide players adding further weight to the search for fresh competition in that area of the pitch.

Maresca’s preference for a particular type of winger reflects the demands of the system he is expected to implement at the Etihad Stadium, one that has historically prized directness and unpredictability in the final third as much as technical composure on the ball.

Report: Viana wants a winger who can dribble and create chances

According to Sam Lee of The Athletic, Viana and Man City are said to want a new winger within the squad who can “dribble and create chances with passes.”

The description points toward a direct, progressive type of attacker rather than a purely creative inside forward, with the emphasis on ball-carrying and chance creation suggesting Maresca is keen to add an outlet capable of unlocking defences through individual skill as much as combination play.

No specific name has yet been attached to the search, though the profile outlined gives a clearer sense of the type of player City’s recruitment team are assessing as the summer window continues.

The phrasing used by Lee is notable for its specificity, with the combination of dribbling ability and chance creation through passing suggesting Viana and his recruitment staff have already identified a fairly narrow type of profile rather than casting a wide net across the position.

It remains unclear at this stage whether the search is centred on a left-sided or right-sided option, or indeed whether City are open to either, though the broad description offered would theoretically apply across both flanks depending on the specific candidates under consideration.

What does the winger search mean for Man City’s forward line?

The pursuit of a new wide attacker adds another layer to what is already shaping up to be one of the most significant rebuilds in the club’s recent history, with Bernardo Silva’s departure and uncertainty over several other forward options leaving Maresca with considerable ground to cover before the new season begins.

Viana’s recruitment strategy throughout the summer has been defined by a clear sense of priority, addressing midfield first through the Anderson deal before turning attention to other areas of the pitch, and the winger search appears to be following a similarly structured approach rather than a reactive scramble.

For Maresca, settling on the right profile of wide player early in his tenure carries added significance given the role wingers are likely to play in his preferred system, with directness and chance creation cited as key attributes suggesting an emphasis on width and verticality in the final third.

Whether City move quickly to identify and pursue a specific target, or continue assessing options as the window progresses, remains to be seen, but the profile outlined by Lee gives a clear early indication of the direction Viana intends to take in reshaping the final third of the squad at the Etihad Stadium.