‘He can’t run’ – BBC pundits react to suggestion for Guardiola to sign Spurs 33-year-old defender

Manchester City’s underwhelming 2019/20 Premier League campaign laid bare the defensive frailties in Pep Guardiola’s squad. As lethal as the Citizens are going forward, they are porous at the back.

Pep Guardiola is ready to raid the transfer market in a bid to put Manchester City back on top of the Premier League after failing to keep pace with Jurgen Klopp’s relentless Liverpool this season, seeing the Reds streak to the title with seven games to spare

English football pundit and retired professional footballer, Jermaine Jenas has suggested on BBC Radio 5 Live that Pep Guardiola should pick Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen up for free as a squad player

“One of the big signings I think they should go and get – and it’s a no-brainer for me – is Jan Vertonghen. They need a centre-half and he’s free,” Jermaine said.

“What you’re forgetting is that he hasn’t played consecutively for a number of years. He’s at a football club where he’s not happy. You drop him into a Pep Guardiola side that dominate the ball in every single game. And by the way I’m talking about back-up here; I’m not talking about replacing Laporte,” he added.

Former Aston Villa and England striker Gabby Agbonlahor wasn’t buying to Jenas’s suggestion: “Come on JJ. You can’t be serious. He can’t run!”

Vertonghen has been an ever-present figure for Spurs since joining in the summer of 2012, but the 33-year-old has barely featured under Jose Mourinho this calendar year – even before the global health crisis – and an exit from North London at the end of this season is happening.

Is this a good idea?

Even though he is happy on the ball, uses both feet and can play in several positions, Probably not, considering his age and the fact he been on Tottenham’s bench for most of this season. Manchester City are a club who always have the long-term in mind when it comes to transfers.

Eric Garcia is quietly developing into a legitimate centre-back option for Manchester City, as he continued his fine start to first-team life against Liverpool this week.