Who has been Manchester City’s most influential summer signing
Manchester City has never been shy of spending money in the offseason.
Following the 2019-20 English Premier League (EPL), where Manchester City finished in second, 17 points behind the Champions, Liverpool, the Cityzens spent £154.62m during the summer transfer window.
City Invested most of that money into their defense, as they believed after scoring a league-high 102 goals last year, their offense was already up to par.
Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias were the two largest signings for Manchester City this offseason combining for a transfer fee of over 100 million euros. Dias had a fee of £61.20m, while Ake was £40.77m.
However, one signing imparticular has been far more impactful for the Pep Guardiola ran side, and that is the Portuguese center back, Ruben Dias. The 23-year-old signing has already received high praise from his manager due to his current form.
"I can assure you that we signed one incredible player for the next five, six, seven years. That is not easy to find. (Via: eveningexpress.co.uk)"
This article will deep dive into Dias’ play this season and why he may be the reason for Manchester City to raise the Premier League trophy for the third time in four years.
🗣️ "It’s time you all accept Rúben Dias is a top 3 CB in the world." 😤
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) January 4, 2021
Fans have reacted to his performances since he joined Manchester City... and highlights show he's probably the best defender in the league right now 🙌https://t.co/LAXITFkjgv
Ruben Dias has Manchester City as the favorites to win the EPL
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With Virgil van Dijk being sidelined with an ACL injury this season, many fans and analysts are calling Ruben Dias the top defender in the EPL.
After Manchester City dropped points in a 5-2 defeat to Leicester in the second game of the season, Guardiola decided to turn to his new Portuguese center back and hasn’t looked back.
Dias has been the main reason for City being able to overcome Guardiola’s worst start to a campaign in his 13-year managerial career.
The Portuguese center-back has played in 14 games this season, the most out of any City defender. Dias has held six shootouts and only has one game where his backline has allowed over a single goal.
The Benfica transfer has completely transformed the culture of this year’s Manchester City team. A club that has revolutionized the game with their possession and beautiful goals now contain the EPL’s best defense allowing only 13 goals.
Ruben Dias is playing at the back, City just have to score a goal per match to win the league.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) January 3, 2021
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In the games Dias has been apart of, Man City has given up a league-best of just seven goals-against. The Cityzens are no longer a side where opponents can park the bus and look to counter off of their mistakes.
Manchester City are the current favorites to win the EPL, according to fivethiryeight.com, with a 68% chance, and will likely be favorites for years to come as long as Ruben Dias is leading the defense for the Sky Blues.