MX23RW : Tuesday, December 24 22:58:24| >> :60:443:443:

How Manchester City could line up with Rodri, Harry Maguire

Manchester City are being linked with Rodri and Harry Maguire, but how could the Premier League champions line up with the pair in their starting lineup?

Manchester City have just enjoyed the best season in their history courtesy of claiming the Premier League title, League Cup and FA Cup to complete the domestic treble.

Pep Guardiola's side were pushed all the way in the race for the top-flight crown by Liverpool, while Chelsea were unfortunate not to edge out the North-West giants in the League Cup final back in February.

Nevertheless, such success has put Guardiola and his players under pressure to maintain their grasp on each trophy, which has resulted in the club looking to make a major statement in the transfer market.

Rodri is expected to be brought in from Atletico Madrid as Guardiola looks to secure a long-term replacement for defensive midfielder Fernandinho, who is now 34.

City also require a new centre-back due to the departure of Vincent Kompany, with reports suggesting that they are looking to push through a deal for Leicester City's Harry Maguire.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how City could line up next season if they are able to add the Spain and England internationals to their ranks.



MCYXI with Rodri, Maguire.

Rodri's release clause means that he will cost £62.5m and while the 22-year-old is likely to be rotated with Fernandinho, you have to expect that he will get the nod over the Brazilian at the beginning of the season.

Such is Guardiola's desire to play attacking football that it will be one or the other for the majority of City's matches although there will be times - potentially in away fixtures against the bigger clubs - where Rodri could be used in a slightly more advanced position with Fernandinho sitting in front of the back four.

Guardiola also has a tendency to use three at the back on occasions, leaving the possibility of both players being used in a defensive position in order to free up Kyle Walker to advance further down the right flank when City have the ball.

As for Maguire, he has become used to playing on the left-hand side of a back two with Leicester and back three with England, but the 26-year-old may have to adapt if he completes a switch to the Etihad Stadium.

Aymeric Laporte is left-footed and Guardiola will not remove him from a role which he excelled in this season, putting Maguire in a straight fight with John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi for the other spot in the backline.

If Guardiola uses a back three, Maguire may be the player to miss out with Stones more likely to be used in the centre with Walker and Laporte being deployed either side.

ID:362751: cacheID:362751:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5014:
Written by
Darren Plant
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds the FA Cup aloft on May 18, 2019
Read Next:
Manchester City want four new signings?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!