Strengths and Weaknesses of Manchester City Transfer Target Fabian Delph
The news that Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has become a Manchester City target has divided opinion among the club’s supporters.
Many see him as a bargain, a player coming off the back of his best year as a professional and showing signs of real quality. Now an England regular, they view Delph, 25, as a rising star—hassle-free and full of potential.
If he can be brought in at a reasonable price, and reports suggest he would cost less than £10 million, he could be a smart addition to the side.
Others, though, see him as indicative of a lack of ambition. Talk of Paul Pogba set the pulses racing, whereas Delph is seen as a huge downgrade. Having made a number of underwhelming signings since they won the league in 2012, these City fans are sensing a frustrating reprise.
BBC Sport is reporting a deal to bring Delph to the Etihad could be completed on Saturday.
Here’s a look at his strengths and weaknesses, assessing whether or not he could bring some added quality to City’s squad.
Strength: Dribbling Ability
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One of Delph's major assets is his ability to drive forward with the ball. He's not blessed with outstanding natural brilliance in the way David Silva or Samir Nasri are, but he bursts into life when he picks the ball up and can take his side up the field.
When he is confident and playing regularly, like he was for Aston Villa last season, he showed he was capable of moments of explosiveness. The question is whether he can transfer that to playing for City, where his appearances may be reduced and his importance to the side decreased.
Weakness: Lack of Goals
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Adding goals to his game will be uppermost in his mind as he looks to continue his ascent in English football.
He's managed just eight goals in his entire Villa career, which, given his quality and rising status, is a disappointing figure.
A side with the level of ambition City have want goals from all areas of the pitch. Delph will need to improve if he makes the switch to Manchester.
Strength: Athleticism
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Delph's stamina and athleticism have been the bedrock of his improvement over the past 18 months and City will benefit from his dynamism in midfield.
They lacked urgency in the middle of the pitch at times last season. Fernandinho, 30, and Yaya Toure, 32, could do with some younger, fresher legs alongside them. This will no doubt have been on Pellegrini's mind when he suggested Delph as a potential signing.
Weakness: Tendency to Be Rash
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Delph's tendency to make rash challenges when things aren't necessarily going his way is something he will have to work on at City.
The pressure of playing for a side challenging for domestic trophies and competing in Europe is going to test him—it will be a significant step up from what he is used to.
Controlled aggression is fine and, in fact, needed to be a quality midfielder, but Delph can sometimes overstep the mark.
Strength: Passing
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Delph's passing is an underrated part of his game. If he can make a good start to life at City and establish himself in the side, City fans may be surprised when they see his ability to retain possession.
He is neat and tidy, tending to keep things simple, which should work well in a City side containing a number of other more talented, creative players.
Not overcomplicating things is fine when there are other players with more technical quality in the side.
Weakness: Lacks Ability to Play Defensive Role
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Despite his recent rise, question marks remain about Delph's ability to play as an out-and-out defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the system Pellegrini ended last season with.
Given Fernando’s frailties in his debut campaign, bringing in added steel would be a positive for City, but Delph is unlikely to solve that particular problem without some work.
At 25, and with the rate he has improved at in recent years, it's not beyond the realms of possibility he could improve in that area, but right now he looks short of what's needed to play that role.
Strength: Tenacity
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His tenaciousness has been the hallmark of his time at Villa, often rousing his team-mates by leading from the front with his never-say-die attitude. It's earned him huge respect at Villa Park.
He's going to need that to assert himself at City. Others have arrived in East Manchester and failed to make an impression. Delph will be desperate not to go the same way.
Weakness: Lacks Experience on the Biggest Stage
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Only time will tell if Delph can make the jump up in class and impact the City first team.
He learned his trade at Leeds United, playing mainly in League One, before his switch to Villa in 2009. He has steadily improved and deserves his chance to prove himself on a bigger stage, but it's certainly no guarantee he will.
He will find things very different at City and will need to adapt quickly.
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