PSV full-back linked with City move
With Pep Guardiola on his way to England this summer, it’s shaping up to be a very exciting summer at the Etihad indeed. It’s abundantly clear that the Spaniard will be given a healthy transfer kitty as he looks to build a side capable of taking that final step to making the club a genuine European heavyweight, and fans will be expecting to see a number of new arrivals between now and the beginning of September.
One name commonly being linked with a potential transfer is Jetro Willems; not only is Guardiola a long-term admirer of the Dutchman, but the club is also very interested too. Some sources speculate that he could be the first new face to join the revolution, and it would certainly be a good choice.
Guardiola hasn’t exactly built a reputation of staying at a club for too long, but he does show trust in youthful players. Despite being known to most fans for the best part of half-a-decade, the youngster is still only 21, which could make him an addition built for the long haul. With many of the current generation coming towards the latter stages of their peak power, Willems could be a great outlet to start the summer transition.
In spite of his age, Willems does boast experience. As well as being the youngest player to ever turn out at a European Championships, he has racked up over 150 senior club appearances. Moreover, his significant role in last season’s Eredivisie title win has given him a taste for winning and he could well seal a second league success at PSV. That sort of experience at a young age could be vital.
Willems is a solid defensive full-back, but his real quality lies in breaking forward. The youngster racked up 13 assists last term before seeing this campaign ruined by injury. Those attributes could make him the perfect long-term occupant of the number three shirt; if Gael Clichy or Aleksandar Kolarov remains at the club, the Dutchman would have a fantastic tutor to help develop those skills.
If Guardiola does splash the cash on Willems, then the Dutch international may need to be a little patient in that first year. However, Dutch site onlinewedden.com has likened the player to one of Bayern’s best players, citing that as a reason why the new boss could swoop. They stated: “Willems is still learning his trade, but does possess attributes that remind us of David Alaba’s time of playing left-back at the Allianz Arena. He is destined for a future in England, Spain or Germany at some stage. We fully expect it to be this summer.”
Despite his absence throughout 2015/16, Willems is still one of Europe’s most highly regarded young full-backs. He could be a great first addition to Guardiola’s plan; not only for the short-term, but also for the long-term future too.