Manchester City handed boost in Wesley pursuit as injury news confirmed
Manchester City should have a better chance of signing Roma star Wesley this summer after it was confirmed that he faces around a month out injured.
New reports from Italy have claimed that Wesley is facing around 30 days on the sidelines after suffering a thigh injury on international duty with Brazil.
The 22-year-old started at right-back in Brazil’s 2-1 loss to France last week, but came off in the 71st minute and will not play a part in their next friendly against Croatia on Wednesday.
He has been one of Roma’s most important players this season, with City among the clubs interested in signing him in the summer window as a result.
Man City’s transfer plans are bound to include signing a new right-back, and they could now have a better chance of snapping Wesley up due to his injury woes.
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VISIT THE TRANSFER HUBRoma’s Champions League hopes could be derailed by Wesley’s injury
Wesley joined Roma from Flamengo last summer and quickly nailed down a starting berth on the right of Gian Piero Gasperini’s back four or five.
The 22-year-old can also feature on the left flank if needed, and has registered four goals and one assist in 35 appearances across all competitions so far this season
| Appearances | 26 |
| Minutes | 2117 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Chances created per 90 | 1.15 |
| Duels won per 90 | 5.65 |
| Fouls won per 90 | 2.13 |
| Tackles per 90 | 2.13 |
| Recoveries per 90 | 4.25 |
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that City are interested in Wesley as they eye a new specialist right-back to allow Matheus Nunes to return to playing in midfield.
City’s chances of landing his services look to have been boosted by his injury concerns, as Roma’s form is likely to take a hit with one of their best, most in-form players out of action.
Gasperini’s side are sixth in Serie A and facing a real battle to finish in the Champions League places right now, with three points between them and fourth-placed Como.
They face table-toppers Inter next after the international break, then Wesley is also set to miss key games against Atalanta and Bologna, who are both within three places of Roma right now.
Many Roma fans have reacted to news of his impending absence with genuine upset and annoyance, as their Champions League hopes are clearly set to suffer while he is sidelined.
This is great news for City, as missing out on the UCL and the money that comes with it will surely mean that Roma are more likely to sell Wesley to them to raise funds.
Is Wesley a better option for City than Tino Livramento?
City’s quest to sign a new right-back in the summer has seen them heavily linked with a move to sign Newcastle’s Livramento.
He has been hampered by injury issues so far this season, with just 15 Premier League appearances made as the Magpies struggle under Eddie Howe.
Wesley has played nearly twice as many minutes as Livramento in league games, while his attacking statistics in Serie A greatly exceed those of the Newcastle man in the PL.
Livramento does have much more experience playing in a top-five European league, however, and has appeared in the Champions League, while Wesley has only featured in the Europa League so far.
Wesley’s defensive statistics are also better than Livramento’s when it comes to league outings this season, and given that he would surely cost less due to not being English, City should focus their efforts on signing the Roma man this summer.
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