Sport
How would Kane and Grealish fit into a Man City XI?
Pep Guardiola has made it clear he wants to bring Harry Kane to Manchester City, bolstering an incredible attack that has already seen Jack Grealish arrive for a new British transfer record. City’s interest in Kane is no surprise given he guarantees goals at the top level like few strikers in world football, but Spurs reportedly want £150 million to allow their star man to leave.
Splashing out so much cash on Kane might be unwise given the problems he has had with injuries in the last couple of years. But City clearly see the England captain as the missing piece of the puzzle as they seek to win the Champions League title for the first time in club history. So how would Guardiola go about picking a team including Kane and Grealish this season?
A settled striker at last
City won the Premier League title at a canter last season – and all without a regular striker. Club legend Sergio Aguero struggled with form and fitness in his last year in Manchester, starting just seven games in the Premier League and contributing only four goals to City’s championship.
Gabriel Jesus has talent but appears to lack the full trust of his manager. The Brazilian has started more than 20 Premier League matches in each of the past two seasons but only scored nine league goals last season. There is now speculation that City are ready to let him move on.
With Aguero and Jesus not relied on, City used a strikerless formation for much of 20-21. The peerless Kevin De Bruyne was often pushed up into a central attacking role with Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Ferran Torres all used as false nines over the course of the campaign. Failing to land Kane could mean Guardiola continues with a similar plan but landing the Spurs man would give City the consistency they desire from a striker.
Kane has clearly played while injured at various times for Spurs but that would not be required at City due to their depth, which includes the highly-rated youth prospect Liam Delap as well as obviously Grealish. Kane’s minutes could be managed more carefully, which in theory would improve his chances of being fully fit for the biggest of games.
At 28, Kane might not be a long-term successor to Aguero but there is no reason to think he would not be extremely prolific at City. As well as being clinical in front of goal, Kane can be deadly when he drops deep and the thought of him linking up with Foden, De Bruyne and Sterling is tantalising. He would be expected to add to City’s already bulging trophy cabinet in the next few years, earning the medals staying at Spurs would be unlikely to provide him with.
Guardiola rotates more than most managers but Kane would be one of the first names on his team sheet, with the attack calibrated around the three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner. The supporting cast may vary, but the attack would be a case of Kane plus others. So where does Grealish fit into the mix after his £100 million move to City from Aston Villa?
Sterling sidelined?
Signs point to City wanting to use Grealish as a number eight primarily, though it stands to reason he will pop up in other areas. While he has played from the left wing more often than not in the last couple of years, the England international roams. He would be a different proposition as an eight to Ilkay Gundogan, who enjoyed the most prolific goalscoring season of his career last term, perhaps not quite matching the German’s defensive awareness and tactical nous.
Sterling found himself out of the City side more often than not in the closing weeks of last season after a period of indifferent form, but he did return to their XI for the Champions League final loss to Chelsea. Sterling has grown into one of the Premier League’s undoubted stars but his future at City suddenly appears in doubt, especially due to the emergence of Foden. It was Foden who became Guardiola’s preferred option on the left last term but Grealish complicates matters if City prefer to first ease him into the team with fewer defensive responsibilities and with the task of supplying Harry Kane.
Assuming Kane signs, it would mean De Bruyne reverting to his deeper playmaking position. A front three of Grealish, Kane and Foden would look great for both City and for England. But that leaves Sterling out in the cold. Sterling can compete for a spot on the right, too, of course, though with Bernardo Silva yet to secure his move away and Riyad Mahrez capable of moments of magic the competition for places is hardly any less ferocious on that side either.
Guardiola will no doubt enjoy the selection headaches he would be handed if City are able to buy Kane on top of Grealish but someone will have to miss out. It seems like that player could be Sterling.
Potential City XI: Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo; De Bruyne, Rodri, Gundogan; Foden, Kane, Grealish.
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