Man City Opinion: Citizens should sign Daniel James from Swansea
According to the Sun, Man City are set to make a £7million move for Swansea City star Daniel James.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season in the Championship this term for the Swans, contributing with 3 goals and 6 assists from 29 appearances in all competitions.
James was heavily linked with a move to promotion-hopefuls Leeds United in January but the deal fell through, though the Peacocks are likely to court him once again in the summer. (h/t Sun)
However, a move to the Premier League now seems to be very much on the cards for the Welsh international, with Pep Guardiola’s Man City expressing an interest.
James successfully replicated his domestic form on the international stage, scoring the winner in Wales’ 1-0 victory over Slovakia in the Euro 2020 qualifiers during the latest international break.
To put things into perspective, James looks like a real talent who is quite capable of making a name for himself in the Premier League in the years to come. With Swansea looking set for a mid-table finish in the Championship, the prospect of a big-money move to the Premier League, that too with reigning champions Man City, is bound to appeal to the player. Undoubtedly, the acquisition of an immensely talented attacker like James would be a massive coup for the Citizens. But the question is- Is James ready to make a step up to City’s first team.
The obvious answer to that would be No.
James is pacy winger who relies mainly on his blistering pace, directness and ability to run at his opposite number. Blessed with quick feet and a good eye for a pass, James combines his acceleration with his trickery on the ball and the ability to change directions quickly to beat the opposition and create space down the flanks.
He has a lot more to his game, though, with his well-rounded passing and crossing ability making him a genuine talent to watch out for. He is really fast and agile, and he is only going to get better in the coming days once he adds a bit more to his tactical responsibility.
However, as promising a young talent as he is, James is going to find it extremely difficult to break into City’s first team. Predominantly a right-footed winger who likes to play in an inverted role out wide on the left, the Welshman is going to find it almost impossible to challenge Leroy Sane for a spot in the starting eleven.
Guardiola apparently hasn’t been keen on experimenting with his team selection in the Premier League and James’ chances of playing regularly would be minimal. The manager hasn’t been hesitant to use Bernardo Silva or Riyad Mahrez down the right to swap Raheem Sterling on the left in order to rotate his squad, which means that even if a move does materialize, James would only play a bit-part role in the Premier League.
On the other hand, it is true that James is a special talent who has made a wonderful start to his career and has the potential of developing into someone like Gareth Bale. He is not the finished product yet but training with top quality players, and more importantly working with a manager like Pep Guardiola, should help him hone his skills better. Although he might find regular minutes hard to come by in the Premier League, James might play a substantial part in the domestic cup competitions and in the group stages of the Champions League.
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City need to continue with their policy of investing in young talents and transforming them into world-beaters. Daniel James is a player with a bright future. Hence, the Citizens should follow up their interest and strike a deal for him in the summer at all costs.
