5 defensive midfielders Manchester City could consider signing in the summer

#3 Amadou Diawara (SSC Napoli)

The youngster has the skill set needed to become world-class

The 20-year-old has been superb and impressed with a quality and maturity are that are unprecedented for a footballer his age. His performances for Napoli as a defensive player who protects the backline set him apart from even older players who play in his position

He has been shown to be at his best when pressing the carrier, disrupting the opposition's attacking play and helping to start counter-attacks from the back. His ability to recover possession quickly will be of great help in Guardiola's quick pressing style and his youthfulness and athleticism mean that either Gundogan, Kevin de Bruyne or David Sliva would love having such a brilliant water carrier playing beside them.

While he has been in and out of the Partenopei squad thanks to Maurizio Sarri's preference for a settled first XI and the form of first-choice defensive midfielder Allan, the Guinean-born youngster has impressed in the games he has played in.

Guardiola would have seen enough of the player over the two legs of the Champions League group game against Napoli this season and could be looking to place a bid for the youngster whose stats for the season have been very impressive.