Nicolas Gonzales: Don Hutchison says Manchester City should target Fiorentina star to replace Bernardo Silva

Don Hutchison believes Fiorentina winger Nicolas Gonzalez is the ideal replacement for Bernardo Silva if the Portuguese playmaker leaves Manchester City this summer.

Silva has helped City win six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League since arriving at the Etihad Stadium from Monaco in 2017, but he has been linked with a move away this summer.

Gonzalez has inspired Fiorentina to the UEFA Europa Conference League final this term while also scoring 11 goals and registering two assists in Serie A.

Hutchison insists Gonzalez fits the profile of a Pep Guardiola player.

"Nicolas Gonzalez is a player that can go on to unbelievably high levels," said the former Liverpool midfielder.

"If Bernardo Silva was ever to knock on Pep Guardiola's door, and think it is time for me to move on, I think he should be seriously looking at Gonzalez.

"He will be huge, we just looked at some of the numbers there in terms of their goals in the Conference League, they top the possession charts, that's their style.

"He is very similar to Silva. Silva has more consistency in his game, but when you look at talent.

"He plays off the right-hand side, he is a left-footed player, he is very good in the air."

Gonzalez joined the Italian side from German club Stuttgart in 2021 and has enjoyed three successful seasons with the Viola.

However, it has not all been plain sailing for the winger.

He has 34 caps for Argentina but was forced to withdraw from their triumphant World Cup squad in 2022 after suffering a muscle injury just before the tournament.

However, the 26-year-old bounced back, helping Fiorentina eliminate Maccabi Haifa, Viktoria Plzen and Club Brugge on their way to a second straight Europa Conference League final.

Hutchison believes Gonzalez has the potential to go to the very top of European football.

"He is quite light, very skilful, a high-level football IQ, but he is brilliant in the air," he added.

"He gets in and he scores important goals but he is a very intelligent player.

"I think that is what Italiano likes, the majority of his teams are filled with players with high football IQ.

"He is a player that I think will go on to really high levels, he is a brilliant player to watch.

"Consistency is where he needs to get to, but in terms of talent and watching him play, he is a fantastic player to watch."

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