Transfer Thoughts: Lescott, Sagna, Fernando, Rodwell, Lopes, Zuculini

Despite the World Cup continuing in full and enticing swing, there is still plenty of transfer activity to attract our attention at City. Joleon Lescott has departed, joining West Brom after his contract in Manchester ended, whilst Bacary Sagna has been brought in to add competition at right-back and Fernando has arrived from Porto. At the time of writing, Argentine midfielder Bruno Zuculini is on the verge of signing for the club,  Marcos Lopes has joined Lille on a season-long loan and Jack Rodwell is likely to leave in the near future. Here are a few thoughts on our transfer dealings.

Joleon Lescott

It’s the right time for Lescott to move on. He’ll be remembered fondly by City fans, and rightly so, thanks to his consistent performances and excellent attitude, but as the club look to develop and compete with the best of the best, Lescott’s limitations prove too much of an obstacle to overcome. Painfully awkward in possession, he struggled to adapt to Manuel Pellegrini’s philosophy, whereby defenders should be comfortable in bringing the ball forward from the back and starting attacks. Hesitant and uncertain, that style of play could not have been more troublesome to the former Everton man.

What should not be overlooked, however, is what a solid defender he is. In many ways, he’s an old-fashioned centre-back. He clears crosses, he makes interceptions and he does all he can to avert danger. At times last season, when our defence looked stretched and there was no settled backline, his simplicity – of getting rid of the ball without trying anything fancy – could have been useful, but he didn’t feature as often as he would have liked and he’ll be a great addition to West Brom. In our title-winning season in 2011-12, he was outstanding and arguably outshone Vincent Kompany. The Belgian’s imposing form over the last couple of months of the campaign, combined with Lescott’s error in the final game against QPR, mean that the captain’s contribution tends to be magnified, but Lescott was a dominant figure that season at the heart of defence. A powerful and popular voice in the dressing room, he’ll be missed in that regard, but this seems like a good move for all parties.

Bacary Sagna

On the right of defence, Bacary Sagna has joined from Arsenal and will provide some much-needed competition for Pablo Zabaleta. It goes without saying just what a pivotal player the Argentine has been the past two seasons, but in such a demanding position, from where he is expected to bomb up and down the wing to provide width and defensive authority, it is unfeasible to expect him to continue performing at such an impressive level. On the other side of the back four, Aleks Kolarov and Gael Clichy rotated throughout the season, enabling both of them to remain fresh and in form, but with Micah Richards struggling with injury, Zabaleta has effectively played without a break for a couple of years. Sagna’s introduction will change that. Accustomed to the Premier League, he’s full of energy going forward and he’ll offer another threat out wide. On a free, too, he looks a sensible acquisition.

Fernando

Since allowing Gareth Barry to leave on loan at the start of last season, our need for a top quality holding midfielder, one who can protect the defence and liberate Fernandinho and Yaya Touré to cause more havoc going forward, has been manifest. Javi Garcia improved to some degree but is far from the player required at City’s level, but Fernando, by all accounts, could well be the missing link. If Yaya stays – and there clearly have to be question marks about that possibility – then a midfield three of the Ivorian, Fernandinho and Fernando will be a powerful force. Those who have watched plenty of Fernando describe him a biting tackler, someone who will sit deep and use his mobility to cover the back four, with an ever-improving range of passing. As with the relationship between Sagna and Zabaleta, Fernando’s presence will ease the burden on Fernandinho and Yaya by affording them a rest, a privilege rarely seen last season.

Jack Rodwell

Fernando’s arrival means that the departure of Jack Rodwell looms closer. As a talented young English midfielder, albeit one who has seen his progress stall as a result of seemingly never-ending injury problems, he’ll have plenty of suitors, with Newcastle, West Brom and Everton all heavily linked with him. Whilst it’s understandable he may want to leave to enjoy the benefits of more regular football, a personal opinion is that it would be a shame to see him move on. When he has featured, he has offered an injection of dynamism and bursts into attacking areas. Clearly, he has experienced a disrupted couple of years at the club, but I feel there are ounces of talent in there that just needs releasing. If that happens at another club, so be it, but I’d like to perhaps see him go on loan, find his Premier League feet, and then come back to challenge for a place at City.

Marcos Lopes

The Brazil-born, Portugal-qualified youngster featured on a handful of occasions during the last campaign for the first team but a loan deal was always likely for him this time around. He’s now on his way to Lille and that could well be a positive match. He’s moving to a strong, competitive league and should he be able to force his way into the picture in France, he’ll no doubt benefit from the experience of playing a high standard of football every week as he aims to develop his game. Grounded, with a genuine appetite to improve, and with no small amount of natural talent, he’ll be one on whom to keep an eye.

Bruno Zuculini

As I write this, Zuculini, a midfielder from Racing Club in Argentina, is at Bridgwater Hospital at he completes a medical before signing. Little is known about him, not even whether he’ll stay at the club or be loaned out somewhere in Europe, but the club have been trailing him for a while so they must feel there’s potential to be unlocked. Time will tell.

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