Answers on a postcard, please.
For about half of you, Julian Weigl is probably one of those where you’ve heard the name but are yet to actually see play.
Pep Guardiola however has seen him, many times in-fact. Pep admires him so much that the German was Man City’s top transfer target for much of last season.
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City’s interest in the 23-year-old comes as no surprise.
Weigl possess all the attributes to be a Guardiola player. Technique, vision, strength and intelligence. Should I go on?
The Borussia Dortmund man was someone who we all thought would arrive in the Premier League sooner rather than later.
The move now seems like a long-shot.
Weigl’s season is yet to really get going.
A thigh problem meant he was omitted from Joachim Low’s World Cup squad, however it’s unclear whether he would have even made it in on merit.
Now fully recovered from his injury-woes, Weigl’s return to regular first-team action is taking much longer than we expected.
The German has featured in just two of Dortmund’s eight league games this season and played 90 minutes just once in all competitions.
On three occasions Weigl has failed to even make the match-day squad, with the rest of his time largely spent watching on from the bench.
So what has happened to the once long-term figure of Guardiola’s desires?
The 23-year-old lost his starting spot in Dortmund’s midfield to summer arrival Axel Witsel.
New manager Lucien Favre risked facing the wrath of the ‘Yellow Wall’ by ousting Weigl in favour of the unproven Belgian.
Witsel has vindicated his manager’s faith though and acquitted himself well in Germany’s top flight.
Weigl has failed to dislodge Witsel from the starting eleven, but did line-up alongside him in the 4-3 victory over Augsburg at the weekend.
A sign of things to come perhaps?
With five international caps to his name, Weigl has been tipped for a key-role in Die Mannschaft’s central midfield for years to come.
His first priority must be to get back into the Dortmund team.
Weigl got himself on the score-sheet in Dortmund’s 7-0 thrashing of Nuremberg last month.
That moment could give him the confidence he so desperately needs.
Football’s worst kept secret is the fact that Man City are on the hunt for a new central midfielder.
A failed pursuit of Jorginho, who snubbed the Etihad in favour of Stamford Bridge, left Guardiola reeling.
Despite impressing against Liverpool, Fernandinho’s form this season has largely been a concern.
Fans and pundits alike are questioning whether or not the Brazilian has enough left in his legs to cope with a high-workload of games.
City’s search for a metronome midfielder could well swing round to Weigl once again.
His form however must improve if he is to get the move which has long been speculated.
Watch this space.
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