Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing rising star Juma Bah as Pep Guardiola looks to repair his failing back line.
The 18-year-old defender has impressed at Spanish club Real Valladolid after joining on loan from AIK Freetong, a club from his native Sierra Leone.
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Bah was expected to feature for the B team, but the 1.85 meter tall player has fought his way into the first team, playing 634 minutes in eight games.
Before his La Liga debut against Real Sociedad, he didn’t even have a player photo ready.
A game that resulted in Bah’s first clean sheet in the Spanish league.
Compared to center backs in Europe’s top five leagues, he is in the 95th percentile in balls per game with 5.63 and in the 98th percentile in air throws won with 3.81 per game.
Despite his age, he appears mature and calm on the ball, exactly what Guardiola loves in a defender.
He is not intimidated by the big events, even when he is playing against world champions.
During the game against Atletico Madrid, Julian Alvarez approached him. Bah skillfully outmaneuvered the Argentine and sent him the wrong way with a false pass and a feint.
With his huge stature he could provide much-needed steel to Manchester City, whose title race is on thin ice.
But his takeover will not be without competition, with Everton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace also keeping an eye on Bah.
Man City are on a six-game winning streak in all competitions, including three consecutive defeats in the Premier League.
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Most recently a 4-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, a team notorious for ruining Guardiola’s weekend.
A dip in form that saw Man City concede 17 goals, perhaps due to an injury crisis.
John Stones, Manuel Akanju and Ruben Dias were all sidelined at some point during the run.
Dias, arguably Man City’s best and most important defender, remains out.
As January approaches, Guardiola could be looking for reinforcements in the hope of winning a fifth consecutive league title.
The Sun reports that Bah is at the top of his list.
A big test rewards City on Sunday against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who have stunned the league with a near-perfect start, losing just one game to Nottingham Forest.
Arsenal remain a thorn in their side for the third season in a row.