Transfer Centre

How Manchester City could line up with Kylian Mbappe

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 26 September 2021

Sports Mole take a look at how Manchester City could line up if they manage to bring Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe to the Etihad Stadium.

Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly weighing up a January swoop for Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

There is no hiding the fact that Pep Guardiola's side are still after a new striker, after failing to lure their primary target Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The Citizens remain interested in signing the England captain, but are also considering alternatives and have identified Mbappe as a potential target in January.

Mbappe, who came close to joining Real Madrid over the summer, has less than 12 months remaining on his PSG contract and it is understood that City's owner Sheikh Mansour is keen to recruit the Frenchman 'at any cost'.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Man City could line up if they manage to bring Mbappe to the Etihad Stadium.

MCFC Mbappe XI

Since the departure of club legend Sergio Aguero, Guardiola has tried several of his attacking players in the number nine position, particularly Ferran Torres and Gabriel Jesus, while the likes of Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne have also featured in the central role.

However, if City were to recruit Mbappe – who has scored 136 goals in 180 appearances across all competitions for PSG – then he would slot straight into their starting lineup.

Mbappe's lightning pace and dribbling ability means he also has the attributes to play on the wing, but with the plethora of options already at Guardiola's disposal in this department, the Frenchman's potential arrival would likely see him start regularly as a central striker.

When running in behind, the 22-year-old would thrive on the killer passes fed into dangerous areas by De Bruyne. The prospect of him linking up with the likes of Foden, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez would also be a sight to behold for City fans.

In central midfield, De Bruyne is arguably City's first name on the teamsheet and the Belgian, when fit, will play regularly alongside Ilkay Gundogan or Bernardo Silva, while Rodri and Fernandinho continue to compete with each other for the defensive midfield role in front of the back four.

With Benjamin Mendy currently suspended, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo are the options at left-back, though the latter – along with Kyle Walker – can also play at right-back.

After an exceptional maiden campaign for the Citizens last season, defensive warrior Ruben Dias is now City's first-choice centre-back, while John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are all hoping they can seize their opportunity in the first XI when called upon.