What this potential €100m-valued Fernandinho successor will bring to Man City

Manchester City is reportedly eyeing Napoli’s Allan as the successor to Brazilian compatriot, Fernandinho.

Fernandinho joined the Citizens from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and since then his stock has risen in leaps and bounds. The defensive midfielder has proven a shrewd signing with his calmness, energy and work rate. However, at 33, Fernandinho is nearing the twilight of his career.

Pep Guardiola’s plot was to bring Jorginho from Napoli last summer but Chelsea beat them to his services. Another Brazilian, however, from Campania could just be the 33-year-old’s heir.

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Without Fernandinho, City were utterly exposed during the festive period, losing back-to-back games against Crystal Palace and Leicester City. 

In Allan, the long search may be over. 

According to Tutto Mercato, the Brazilian is rated at around €100m and is expected to move to the Etihad.

Allan played alongside Jorginho at Napoli.

And although the Italian received all the plaudits, it was his less-fancied teammate that pulled the strings behind. 

Primarily a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder, Allan is adept in offensive areas as a playmaker. A ball winning expert, the energetic midfielder does not lack talent or flair on the ball.

He is not as your usual Brazilian midfielder with a knack for showboating.

He thrives on pressing for possession in the middle of the pitch and then move it on to a more attack-minded team-mate.

According to Whoscored, since arriving in Napoli in 2015, Allan has made almost 70 more tackles than any other player in Serie A (350), with an average of 4.2 per 90 minutes the most of players to have made ten starts in Italy’s top-flight this term.

He leads the way this term ahead of the likes of Valon Behrami and Diego Laxalt. Allan will definitely bring the much-needed defensive stability that Guardiola has long craved.