Scouting Manchester City Transfer Target Lucas Hernandez

Manchester City’s search for a defender is becoming increasingly focused. Pep Guardiola has evidently made up his mind he needs reinforcements at the back after City’s somewhat chaotic defending during the final stages of Manuel Pellegrini’s tenure undermined their results, with Lucas Hernandez the latest to be linked with a move.

According to Antony Kastrinakis of the Sun, the Atletico Madrid centre-back, 20, has emerged as a target for Guardiola as he looks to reshape the City squad.

He has a buyout clause of £20 million, which, in the current climate, doesn’t represent much of a gamble.

The new Premier League television deal has swelled the coffers of every top-flight English club, and with City already in a strong, self-sustaining financial position, they have a plenty of money to spend in this summer’s transfer window. Atletico, it would seem, are powerless to stop him moving should he wish to.

The report suggests Diego Simeone, Atletico’s talented manager, is desperate to keep the young Frenchman. The former Argentina international gave Hernandez his debut as an 18-year-old and has gradually exposed him to more first-team opportunities.

Diego Godin remains Atletico’s best defender, perhaps the finest in La Liga, but Hernandez has been an impressive member of their supporting cast. When he was called upon last season, he performed well, and it’s clear why Simeone wouldn’t want to lose him.

"We are fortunate to have four major centre-backs," Simeone said in May, per FourFourTwo. "Godin's presence is very important but the form of Gimenez, Hernandez and Savic gives us security."

Hernandez played 16 times last season, including a substitute appearance in the Champions League final. He is a regular for the France under-20 side and is expected to push on soon.

He made his debut in 2014, playing in a 3-0 Copa del Rey win over CE L’Hospitalet alongside Jose Maria Gimenez—another promising young talent—making an immediate impression and showing people why Simeone had such faith in him. His progress since has been steady and impressive.

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He’s strong and brave, showed maturity in his displays last season and improved in a short space of time. He’s an aggressive defender and excellent in the air. He would certainly bring a physicality to City’s defence that has sometimes been lacking.

Like John Stones, another City target, he enjoys bringing the ball out from the back—a trait found in most top defenders in La Liga, and one Guardiola feels is imperative to his possession-based style of football.

Hernandez isn’t the finished article, but he’s shown excellent promise, and his signature wouldn’t break the bank.

His versatility is also likely to appeal to Guardiola, a man who values players’ ability to operate in numerous roles. Hernandez has played at left-back—another problem position for City—and looked comfortable.

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“I’ve never been worried about having a small squad,” Guardiola told FIFA.com in December 2011. “In fact, being a little short on options is probably better for us than having a lot, especially as I’ve got players with so much quality to call on.

“I’ve got complete faith in the team and my philosophy is that there’s a solution to every problem," he continued. "Whenever there’s a potential problem I’ll always look at the alternatives I’ve got in the first team and even among the youngsters.”

You have to be able to play numerous roles to really impress Guardiola. Perhaps Hernandez’s finest performance came at left-back in a 2-0 Copa del Rey win over Real Madrid in 2015. The youngster kept Gareth Bale’s impact to a minimum and received widespread praise for his display.

Hernandez could follow Stones, who, according to Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo, has told Goodison Park officials he wants to join City in time for their pre-season tour of China. Interest in Everton's 22-year-old centre-back intensified after Aymeric Laporte decided to stay at Athletic Bilbao, despite strong interest from City, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror.

What’s clear from the targets City have identified is that Guardiola appears more than happy to work with young defenders—those who aren’t yet the finished article but who he can mould and shape to his liking. If he sees the raw qualities—comfort in possession, pace, strength, reading of the game—then he feels confident he can add the tactical awareness needed to become a top-class player.

Stones is a fine example. There are some legitimate concerns over him. He was directly responsible for a number of goals Everton conceded last season, and he has tendency to overplay; holding on to the ball when it would be better to clear. However, his excellence in possession and his ability to read the game are clear. He has huge potential.

Which is why there are some who still hold out hope for Eliaquim Mangala. At just 23, the France international still has plenty of improving to do.

Centre-backs often hit their peak in their mid to late 20s in the modern game. Mangala has struggled for consistency in his two years at City, and with a massive fee hanging over him, he had little room to make mistakes without being on the receiving end of harsh criticism. His confidence took a beating early on and he has never fully recovered.

Although there are some fundamental issues with his game, such as his lack of poise on the ball and his inability to anticipate danger, his wonderful physical attributes—pace, power, athleticism—suggest a player with the raw materials to be a huge success. Whether Guardiola can mould him into the kind of player City need remains to be seen and is one of his biggest challenges in pre-season.

Guardiola enjoys the challenge of turning potential into proven quality. That is likely to appeal to a player like Hernandez, who may feel first-team opportunities will be more forthcoming at City than they have been at Atletico.

But whether he is a better prospect than Stones is debatable. The England international has played close to 100 games for Everton and has shown he can handle the Premier League. He would cost more, but he perhaps represents a better immediate option.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.