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Go for it Pep – This 25-year-old La Liga midfield general would be the perfect replacement for Fernandinho at Man City

Why Thomas Partey would be an excellent buy for Manchester City

According to a report from the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City are interested in Atletico Madrid midfield ace Thomas Partey.

Manchester City are in a crisis. Consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City saw Pep Guardiola’s side slump from top to the third position in the Premier League standings but are now back in second after the win over Southampton. Having bulldozed to 13 wins in their first 15 league games, their title defence is under serious threat having now fallen 7 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

And given City’s galaxy of attacking talents, it has become starkly apparent that Fernandinho is the team’s most important player. Though only a minor injury, Fernandinho’s absence has highlighted a major concern.

The Brazilian has been a crucial cog of this City side and his absence in the heart of midfield has coincided with a downturn in fortunes for the club of late.

With Fernandinho set to turn 34 in March, he cannot start week in and week out for long. And Guardiola identified this problem back in the summer when he wanted to sign Jorginho but the Italy international chose to follow his Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea instead.

So with cracks emerging at City, signing a replacement for Fernandinho in January has to be the top priority for Guardiola. And Thomas Partey fits the bill perfectly.

A graduate of Atletico Madrid’s youth system, Thomas Partey, 25, has grown leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. The Ghanaian played a crucial role in guiding Atletico Madrid to the Europa League crown and was a part of a team that boasted one of the best defences in Europe under Diego Simeone last season.

A defensive midfielder by trade, Partey excels at breaking up the play and starting counter-attacks from the base of the engine room. He is an excellent ball winner, distributor and an initiator of his team’s attacks.

The Ghana international is a rampaging midfielder who uses his intelligent positioning to influence the game and has an unbelievable eye for a pass.

The 25-year-old’s ability to create space for himself and his teammates remains underrated. Calm on the ball and possessing the technique to break the opposition with his movement and dribbling, Partey is also a brilliant long-range shooter. He has a habit of popping up with the odd goal, just like Fernandinho.

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Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, Partey could become one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.

Most importantly, he could solve City’s midfield conundrum for the next few years by replacing the ageing but excellent Fernandinho. And that’s why Guardiola should splash the cash to sign Partey in January.