Goalkeepers are supposed to peak at about 30, which makes one wonder how good the 18-year-old Whatmuff will be at that point. He spent last season playing professionally, earning promotion from the National League with Rochdale under the tutelage of Jimmy McNulty. When the manager jumped two divisions to Stockport, Whatmuff was the first person he wanted to take with him.
City showed how highly they think of Whatmuff by incorporating him within their pre-season tour travelling party, where he worked closely with Gianluigi Donnarumma. Whatmuff is extremely composed with the ball at his feet, unfazed by pressure and his surroundings. Those who have worked with him are confident he will spend his career in the Premier League and win full international honours.
The winger has spent his career flitting between England and Italy, taking in Juventus, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Pisa along the way. It feels like a fascinating career but one that needs a more permanent setting. Wingers who can use both feet are incredibly desirable and Iling-Junior is further aided by his pace.
Wherever he has been, the 22-year-old has never made his mark consistently but he has the qualities to succeed and requires more game time to hone the skills that enabled him to score in Serie A and earn 16 England Under-21 caps. Pep Guardiola gave the midfielder his City debut, a fine reward for someone who joined aged five and is an FA Youth Cup winner. He made steady progress until 15 when he sustained a fractured spine, then showed admirable courage and desire to return, only to fracture his shins.
The holding midfielder, described as “clever and intelligent” by Guardiola, is regarded as happy to sit in front of the defence. This season was viewed as the right time for Gray to progress his development in the third tier. Gray was not used by Gary Caldwell in Wigan’s opening three games, all of which were lost, but started Wednesday’s home victory against MK Dons.
It cost a League of Ireland record for Tottenham to sign the forward, who made almost 100 first-team appearances for St Patrick’s Athletic before leaving as an 18-year-old in January. Clubs from across the pyramid and around Europe were interested in Melia, whose clever movement is a key part of his game. He is able to play as the focal point of the attack but can also drop deep and get on the ball.
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