Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could be set to use Rico Lewis more as a number eight in 2023/24.
Lewis has seriously impressed at the Etihad Stadium since he made his debut back in August 2022.
Lewis is primarily a right-back.
But last season we saw the youngster play two positions in one game at times for City.
Lewis would play as a right-back when defending, but offer support in midfield alongside Rodri when City had the ball.
It was an experiment that Pep Guardiola then used with John Stones, with the England star absolutely thriving.
Lewis, who many other clubs have asked about taking on loan this summer, will be hoping to build on the minutes he got last season.
And now, it’s been suggested he could be playing a position he doesn’t play very often.
Rico Lewis could be in line to play as a number eight for Manchester City
Lewis was a topic of conversation on the Let Me talk podcast.
Journalist Sam Lee was discussing City’s option to play on the right wing, which led to him making a suggestion about Lewis.
He said: “Now it’s like, if they can’t find a winger, then Bernardo and Foden could stay on the right. That may be where they start looking and Gabri Veiga comes back into it or something, if they decide to do that.
“That wasn’t what I was told last night. It was more that Rico Lewis will be used as a number eight.”
Lewis put in a superb display for City recently in the first-half against Bayern Munich when he operated a bit higher up the pitch than usual.
He played as a number eight alongside James McAtee.
His performance drew praise from both Paul Dickov and Steve Howey, who branded him ‘absolutely outstanding’ after his display against Bayern.
This would be a huge show of faith from Pep Guardiola
So it sounds very much as though this will be dependent on whether City sign a winger this summer.
But if Lewis does end up being an option to play as a number eight, then that would be some show of faith from Guardiola.
Lewis has mainly played at right-back and at holding midfield alongside Rodri.
Admittedly, he was excellent against Bayern playing a bit higher up.
But it would be quite the move from Pep to make that his new regular position, when he has so little experience of it.
But if that does turn out to be the plan then Lewis has every chance of making it work.
He is a fantastic young player who is extremely intelligent and tactically aware. It’s very possible it could be yet another masterstroke from Pep.
