Owen Hargreaves has tipped Manchester City to make a move for one of the Premier League’s ‘best’ midfielders in the summer.
Manchester City have an incredible team that could yet claim an unprecedented back-to-back treble this season.
It would be extremely difficult but Pep Guardiola’s side are just a point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals and are still going strong in the FA Cup.
There aren’t many weaknesses in the City side but there is a significant one: the lack of cover for Rodri.
The defensive midfielder is the most important player in the team so far as City are just not as good if he is unavailable.
Rodri has gone undefeated for well over a year in the side, but City have lost all four matches without him this season.
Following Ilkay Gundogan’s departure in the summer, there is no longer adequate cover for Rodri and as a result, he is having to play almost every minute of action.
Owen Hargreaves believes bringing Douglas Luiz back to the club in the summer transfer window could solve that problem.
Owen Hargreaves could see Man City signing Douglas Luiz
Speaking on The Final Word by Optus Sport, Hargreaves said: “I think he’s developed into one of the best midfield players in the Premier League.
“And I wouldn’t be surprised if Man City tried to bring him back, they need someone when Rodri is not there, when he was at Man City he didn’t play a tonne.”
Should Man City sign Douglas Luiz?
Defensive midfield should be City’s top priority in the summer transfer window without a doubt.
The signing of Kalvin Phillips proved to be a bust as he was never trusted by Guardiola and with his exit City are extremely short on options.
Neither Mateo Kovacic nor Matheus Nunes can play there, it’s not the best position for Bernardo Silva or John Stones and Rico Lewis is still very young and learning the game.
It would be a disaster if Rodri was to miss another match for the rest of the season given City’s record without him but such a burden is unsustainable.
The 27-year-old has already played 33 times this season after 56 games last term. That’s a lot of wear and tear and an injury is inevitable.
City need a quality option to help lighten the load and Luiz would be an ideal signing.
Though he never played for City, he is familiar with the style of play thanks to his time with other clubs in the City Football Group.
As Hargreaves says, Luiz has gone on to be one of the most consistent and effective midfielders in England since his £15m move to Aston Villa in 2019.
Luiz would solve a big problem for City but he would cost a lot more than £15m now.
