#SheikhScouts: Finding The Right Center-Back

Welcome back to the latest edition of Sheikh Scouts, Man City International’s ongoing player scouting series. In the previous installment, the focus was on rebuilding our midfield engine. Specifically, players that are flying slightly under the radar, names that aren’t as popular as others. For example, someone like Zubimendi, who seems to be linked to every single club on the planet, did not qualify. That will be the focus for this edition as well, in which I’ve identified a handful of center back candidates that could make sense for us to target. Please keep in mind that this is not an insider report, nor is it an indication of any players being linked to City. 

It was only two or so seasons ago that our CB depth was the toast of Europe. Ruben Dias, John Stones, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and Aymeric Laporte anchored our backline as we marched towards the historic treble. But Laporte left soon after, replaced by Gvardiol, who was transformed into a left back. John Stones, despite not showing any visible signs of playing decline, continues to be unreliable due to ongoing fitness issues with Nathan Aké a regular companion in the training room due to his own ongoing injury woes. This has lead to more minutes and more injuries for their normally healthy teammates, as City struggle to uphold their traditionally lofty standards.

Playing CB in a Pep system is not easy. The high line, the responsibility in possession, the confidence required to retain possession, beat the press, and even act as a pivot on occasion.. these are difficult tasks that require a combination of technical ability, intelligence, awareness, and of course, physical strength and athleticism. In some ways, I would say it is the most difficult task in a Pep team. Keeping that in mind, here are some players I’d love for us to consider. 

Pay Whatever It Takes: Tomas Araújo, Benfica, 22 years old

I’ve spoken of my admiration for young Tomas quite a bit in the past. While his teammate Antonio Silva gets more hype, Araújo is the one that caught my eye on more than one occasion. At roughly 6”2, he is the prototypical size for a centerback and his rise through Benfica’s ranks speaks for itself. A factory of talent that teaches their players how to play football the right way. I don’t see it as a stretch to say that Araújo is the best CB talent Benfica have produced in quite some time. 

The most recent recipient of the “Defender of the Month” award in the Portuguese league, Araújo is very much your modern, ball-playing centerback. But let’s talk about his defending first, even though it’s not even his best quality. 

The Portuguese is RAPID. I’ve seen roughly 25 of his full 90s and I cannot recall him being beat by pace. For a young player, his composure is off the charts, in and out of possession. While I had some concerns about his physical strength, he’s shown notable improvement in that area, especially in aerial duels. But there is no needless aggression with this player and he rarely makes errors. He seems to understand the gravity of his responsibilities as the last line of defense and his decision making reflects a quiet confidence paired with a natural defender’s instinct. 

On the ball, the highest praise I can give is that he reminds me of John Stones. On-ball ability is eye-poppingly good with his distribution and passing being his best qualities. There is no pass he cannot make and under pressure? Yeah, good luck trying to dispossess him. Fluid hips, long legs and moves incredibly well.  A natural athlete that makes the game look easy, as if it he was born to play.  

If I’m nitpicking, his weaknesses are his lack of elite strength and at times, aggression. He is only coming into his “man body” and I feel he can and should impose himself more. As he matures and realizes just how good he is, he has the ceiling of a bonafide CB #1, capable of shutting attackers out and leading the line from the back. I also think there is a slight over-reliance on his dominant foot. It’s not that he can’t use his left foot, he tends to use his right even when it would simply be easier to use the alternative. I can see this potentially being an issue in games with razor thin margins if/when he takes a step up to a “bigger” club. We haven’t seen him without the safety net of his boyhood club and that can be a massive factor in a player’s psyche. Araujo would be the most expensive option in this list and he recently signed a new contract extension with a 80m release clause. That said, I’d pay it in a heartbeat. 

A solid alternative: Zeno Debast, Sporting CP, 21 years old

Also plying his trade in Portugal, rising Belgian defender Zeno Debast has impressed this season for Sporting CP and is emerging as the next star from a country that has produced the likes of Vincent Kompany, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. The small but mighty Belgian Pro League has been pumping out serious talents in recent years and Debast is at the very top of the list. 

A defender’s defender, Debast is a physical beast who seems to genuinely enjoy defending and relishes going in for the tackle. He is strong and tall (6”2), aggressive, and capable of playing in a traditional back four or on the right of a back three, as can be seen by his time at both Anderlecht and now at Sporting. Whether facing a 1v1 or in a transitional state, Debast is a formidable man to come across as his anticipation skills are as good as any. I love how comfortable he looks in space and feel that he may be able to deputize as a fullback as well, if needed. 

For any manager looking to set up his defense for success, he is a dream as a natural born leader. Communicates and scans constantly, an “alpha” type in the mold of Ruben. 

On the ball, Zeno is a solid passer with a more than sufficient range of distribution. His ball-carrying is highly underrated and he drives forward with confidence and power. He is deceptively nimble despite his size and stature, capable of twisting and turning under pressure to evade the press. 

I do have concerns in terms of his athletic ceiling and long distance distribution. He can be caught flat-footed and doesn’t have the acceleration in short bursts to keep up with the quickest players in short distances or change of direction. Overconfidence in his physical strength leads to overcommitting to duels (and yellow cards) and he needs to learn to pick and choose his battles a bit better. While his short passing is as good as any and he CAN execute any pass, his long balls tend to be a bit inaccurate and float too much. The more time in the air, the more time for defenders to adjust. I would like to see him play quicker and make decisions faster, more decisively. 

His value is currently listed at around 25m on transfermarket and I think he will cost around twice that. 

The Swiss Army Knife: Cristhian Mosquera, Valencia CF, 20 years old

From the days when David Villa and David Silva were tearing it up for them, Valencia has been the one Spanish club i’ve had an affinity for. And despite his team’s struggles, I see Mosquera as one of the best talents their academy has produced in recent years. His best player comp? Our very own Manuel Akanji, hence, “The Swiss Army Knife”. That said, I hesitated to included Mosquera in this article for a couple of reasons. Mainly because Valencia have struggled mightily in La Liga this season and his overall performances and statistics haven’t necessarily screamed “City quality.” However, I would like to preface his inclusion simply by the belief that his overall ability and potential is far better than what you might find on a stat sheet. 

About the same size as Akanji and also a hybrid CB/FB of sorts, Mosquera is capable of playing anywhere across the back. CCB in a back five, left or right CB in a back four, and even as a wide defender in a back 3. As a wide defender, he’s fully comfortable reading wingers and rarely expends energy beyond what is needed. His sense of anticipation and controlled aggression is impressive for his age. And his positioning? Top notch. Athletic enough to contain wingers that love to cut in, intelligent enough to position himself in between channels to defend both wide and central. The Prem is filled with tricky wingers that love to cut into their dominant foot and Mosquera is more than capable in those matchups. The key thing to note here is that he can seamlessly shift from defending wide to moving central. 

He’s got the quality to thrive in possession heavy systems but his mental makeup and confidence enables him to stay calm in chaos. And at Valencia, there is plenty of chaos at the moment. This level of composure is crucial in moments of transition and what we sorely need from our defenders as they attempt to hold our high line. Comfortable carrying the ball, displays nice ball control and fluidity in the execution of his passing and dribbling, making him a viable factor in build-up, as opposed to just being a passenger. You want to see defenders willing to make things happen. Versatility, versatility, versatility.. this is Mosquera’s greatest attribute. Reads the play well, springs into action decisively, and quick enough to gets back into position. in his first full senior season, he ranked in the 95th percentile of defensive duel success rate, which is phenomenal. 

There are some specific areas of concern with Mosquera but I will attempt to explain why I see them as relative non-issues. 

Mosquera struggles with the distance of his passing but I believe it to be situational. When playing with an inverted fullback, there is no need for a middle third connector and more emphasis can be placed on playing balls out to the wide channels. When the fullbacks go high and wide, the need for the connector becomes much more obvious. Without that link, Mosquera can be a bit inconsistent and indecisive in his distribution, leading towards turnovers and transitional frailties. Fortunately for us, we have Rodri. 

The stats above are listed to give context but they do not tell the whole story. When compared with defenders in his age group, he is certainly in the acceptable range for his age grouping for most passing statistics. No, he is not Cubarsi or Garcia, but I feel confident in saying that his passing will improve with experience and in a team that isn’t fighting relegation. While is aerial duel numbers are low, he passes the eye test. He leaps quite well, has a solid base as a former basketball player, and logic says that as he improves and matures physically, these numbers will improve. 

Transfermarket has his value listed at 30m and with Valencia in such turmoil, I feel we may be able to get him at face value (which would be a bargain). More than anyone on this list, I see his ceiling and potential as being much more than meets the eye. 

Homegrown Hero: Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Southampton FC, 22 years old

Taylor should need no further introduction to City fans. A CFA graduate shining in the Premier League for a lower level side, THB’s quality has been on display all throughout his time at City, on loan, and now after being sold. A leader and a winner who captained both City and England’s youth teams to success and lead Burnley and Southampton to promotion, THB has developed marvelously and looks potentially ready to contribute for City’s senior team. 

As you’d expect from a CFA graduate, he is absolute quality on the ball and we’d be hard-pressed to find better. He is a vital part of his team’s build up and his passing arsenal is quite diverse. Because of that, he’s quite unpredictable as an offensive outlet and plays the ball with confidence and poise. His long range passing is a key part of Southampton’s ability to attack. Technical ability and tactical intelligence are two of THB’s most prominent attributes and his quality is clearly above that of the teams he has played for at senior level. Matter of fact, he even played as a DM at youth level due to his excellent quality on the ball.

Physically, he isn’t the biggest nor the fastest but he still manages to win his fair share of duels because of his strength and positioning. Pound for pound, he isn’t the type to back down and he displays deceptive strength in holding opponents off the ball and winning one on one battles. 

His best role is as a CCB, the last man in defense where he can display his leadership qualities and wide range of distribution. Think Rúben Dias with similar skillset and athletic deficiencies. I also love the fact that he’s thrived in multiple settings and in teams that aren’t necessarily the easiest environments for him to make a name. He has matured and looks the part. 

However, there is plenty of room for improvement. Whether it’s because his team is usually playing under siege or not, Taylor has shown a tendency to make an odd error here and there. I wouldn’t go as far as to say he has a “bozo gene,” but he needs to learn to stay composed and not try anything rash. 

Younger players have a tendency to panic after a mistake, often reacting drastically to rectify their blunders when they’re actually just making the situation even worse. He needs to get that out his system, improve his passing accuracy, and learn to utilize his aggression at the right time. That said, I do genuinely believe these are things that he can learn from playing under Pep and alongside world class peers. He is too talented and intelligent for these things to hinder his development long-term. 

I believe we have a buyback clause, although I’m not certain on the actual figures. He would likely be the most affordable of the players listed in this article. 

Wildcard: Ryan Flamingo, PSV, 21 years old

When I first discovered Flamingo, his stats blew me away and all I could think of was: who the hell is this guy? Like Kompany in early years, Flamingo initially played as a defensive midfielder early in his career before switching over to a centerback. Upon arrival at PSV, he was thrown into the starting lineup and he hasn’t looked back since.  

On the attacking end, Flamingo has quite literally become the source for everything good at PSV (and the Eredivisie), ranking first in carrying distance, touches, and passes completed. A massively important player for the Dutch team’s buildup with the responsibilities to match his borderline freakish well-roundedness and ball-playing ability. His progressive passing isn’t just a tool in the bag, it’s a notable strength of his game. His long range passing doesn’t seem to have much, if any limitations and he routinely seizes responsibility of the ball and loves to take the game by the scruff of the neck. He is a technical floor-raiser for any backline.

Flamingo is easily the superior athlete out of the four players mentioned. Like Walker in his heyday, Flamingo’s pace and athleticism enables PSV to play with more risk and fluidity. And it’s not just straight line pace. This man is an athlete with the agility to keep up with the quickest attackers. His defensive instincts, motor, and sheer athleticism also enable PSV to defend and push higher up the field. As a defender, he is a potent mix of ability and mentality, blending the two to make timely challenges and almost always be in position to cover. Key word.. almost. 

Flamingo plays with bravery, confidence, and has a short memory, which is key for defenders who play with immense risk. Although consequences occasionally come from such risk, Flamingo will rarely be seen sulking or giving up on the play. He is tenacious and his motor is relentless. The defensive side of his game is all about shutting down the attack before it even starts and he isn’t afraid to do what it takes to try and make that happen. 

All in all, this is a highly unique, versatile utility player that I believe has the potential to play 4-5 positions for us. 

Where I see room for improvement is in areas where his obvious physical superiority might not be as much of a factor and instincts/reactions need to be top. For example, in the box. While a force of nature in space, Flamingo can be caught ball-watching and needs to improve his overall awareness from set pieces and dead balls. I would also be curious to see how he would look in a side that doesn’t necessarily need him to be so ball-dominant. If he were to play for City, surrounded by world class players, I’m not exactly sure if he’d be comfortable taking a step back and being passive when needed. Flamingo is a forward-first player and that will need to be curbed at times. 

Interestingly enough, Flamingo’s listed value on transfermarket is astonishingly low at 12m. Based on what I’ve seen, I cannot fathom PSV letting him go for anything close to that, especially given his importance to their squad. We’d likely be looking at 50m+. Yes, he is that good. 

Honorable Mentions: Facundo Medina, Mika Marmol, Malick Thiaw, Zaid Romero

Written by: SHEIKH