Joshua Kimmich transfer would leave major transfer question surrounding ‘amazing’ Man City star

Manchester City’s slow start to the summer transfer window will surprise few who have followed the club closely over recent years.

Last summer, the Blues only completed one deal prior to August, the year before late deals emerged for Sergio Gomez and Manuel Akanji and in the summer of 2021 there was just one major addition to the squad.

That City’s star-studded roster doesn't require major surgery, the general lack of activity so far in the window, and the focus of European football currently centred on Germany, have also been contributing factors to quiet opening weeks in the transfer market. City’s stance has always been that major incomings would be determined by significant outgoings and, without the latter, it’s no surprise that no arrivals have been confirmed as of yet.

Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta were identified as transfer targets prior to the summer, but Newcastle United’s high valuation and FA betting charges being brought against the West Ham United star have also stymied what could have been two possible early deals.

It means that as the Premier League champions approach the end of June there is little to excite fans. Nevertheless, one interesting name has recurred in recent weeks: Joshua Kimmich.

Defensive players rarely arouse the sort of excitement typically reserved for new attackers, but Kimmich would be an intriguing addition. Eight Bundesliga titles, a Champions League winner’s medal and 89 German caps are the sorts of achievements that would impress even the serial winners in City’s changing room.

That Kimmich has previously played under Pep Guardiola, has been voted in the Bundesliga Team of the Season on five occasions and didn’t miss a single minute of Bayern’s 2023/24 Champions League campaign further underline his credentials. With just 12 months remaining on his contract, and a cut-price deal seemingly possible, it’s a transfer that would appeal to City, especially given his tactical intellect and ability to operate in defence and midfield.

Yet, signing an experienced technician like Kimmich would raise questions about the role and future of Rico Lewis, another adept at operating in the middle and at right-back.

The teenager signed a long-term deal last August and there’s no suggestion he would look to move on, but Kimmich’s arrival would undoubtedly see him slip down the pecking order in two positions.

Guardiola rarely rushes young talents into the first-team environment and Lewis is only the second academy graduate to play 50 times under the Catalan during his time at the Etihad. The other, of course, is Phil Foden, a player who spent much of his developmental years watching from the sidelines.

There has been considerably less clamour for Lewis to be shipped out on loan than there was during Foden’s breakthrough years, perhaps unsurprisingly given how the latter has progressed in recent seasons.

But there’s also no denying that Lewis’ growth has been checked by the talent Guardiola has at his disposal. The Bury-born star played just 16 Premier League games last season, only eight of which were starts, while he played 20 minutes across the last six matches as City wrapped up another title.

Guardiola referred to Lewis as ‘amazing’ in October and claimed the youngster ‘has everything’, but the reality for the Mancunian is that Guardiola still does not trust him in the crunch moments.

That might not be an issue for Lewis during this precocious stage of his career, but any potential transfer for Kimmich might raise uncomfortable questions about the trajectory in which one of the country’s most promising talents is headed.