Manchester City: Kalidou Koulibaly can be The Citizen’s Virgil Van Dijk
Manchester City know what they need.
After the former Champions obliterated the new champs, how much better could Manchester City get with someone like say, Kalidou Koulibaly.
This is fair speculation; while news outlets have suggested that the deal is basically in the books, it reminds us all that Pep Guardiola does consider their to be a “rebuild” afoot at City. Kalidou Koulibaly could, and would, certainly end the issue defensively in much the same way as another expensive centre back in English football.
Virgil van Dijk has been a revelation for Liverpool since he was transferred for from Southampton; in the time since, Liverpool have been nearly unstoppable across England, Europe and the world. Can Kalidou Koulibaly be that same type of impact for Manchester City?
Yes: How Kalidou Koulibaly is a game-changer for Manchester City
In short, this is a no brainer; with the talent Manchester City already has on the backline, this would be a wise move. Names like Aymeric Laporte and Kyle Walker will only be improved working next to someone like Koulibaly.
For Manchester City, this is likely best for both the offense as well as defense; the one thing City have lacked this year has been that defensive presence.
With Kalidou Koulibaly behind the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero, the scores. May look comical next campaign. As is often the case, the success of Liverpool is providing teams with the templets for success moving forward; stout defense and a fluid offensive philosophy.
Manchester City: Breaking the Bank every year for as long as one can remember
There are many people who find the amount of money in football to be perverse; for these people, clubs like Manchester City are the worst things for the game they love.
Why? Because they purchase their way back into contention yearly; their resources are remarkable and so they can manage to do what smaller clubs cannot. But is it any less grotesque than when their crosstown rival United spend similar sums, only to finish fifth on the Premier League table?
No, City has earned their position and they’ve earned the chance to recoup it with their financial capabilities (as the sport allows of course). While they certainly spend lots, they have. Not reached the level that Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have reached in recent campaigns.
On top of the amount of money that City generates for every transfer window. The sales of Leroy Sane and whoever else leaves will only boost the effort to remake the club; who takes these players places is to be seen of course, but don’t imagine for a second that City isn’t hard at work to figure that out as we speak.
Kalidou Koulibaly: A Move worth as much as it takes to complete
While many people said that the costs of such a move for Koulibaly may be more than €100mill, this wasn’t ever going to be seen as prohibitive to Manchester City; the number of £72mill was a fine compromise for all parties involved.
The owners have an obligation both to the current players, as well as to their manager. The incentivization to retain Pep Guardiola could very well include massive budgets to sharpen his sword for coming to Premier League and Champions League competitions.
How Kalidou Koulibaly has stayed at Napoli for so long remains one of the greater mysteries of European football; should he leave for England finally, it will be a wonder to watch him play against Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool, for at least, twice a year.
