Manchester City are reportedly lining up a move for Hoffenheim defender David Raum.

What's the word?

That is according to a report from Graeme Bailey of 90min who claims that Guardiola's side have enquired about the availability of the defender and are in talks over a potential move.

It is said that Raum is on the list of possibilities in case a deal for Brighton's Marc Cucurella cannot be struck.

Hoffenheim are said to be keeping tabs on Manchester City's Japanese defender Ko Itakura, who spent last season on loan with Schalke. As per the report, it is mentioned that City asked about the availability of their German left-back with the possibility of a swap deal surely a tempting factor for the efficient Citizens.

Imagine him and Haaland

In what was his debut campaign in top-flight football, let alone in the Bundesliga, £18m-rated Raum has completely shattered all expectations, conjuring up a staggering 14 attacking returns in the form of three goals and 11 assists in 32 appearances for Hoffenheim, fluctuating between the position of left-back and wing-back depending on a three or four-at-the-back system.

As a left-footed full-back, it's his ability to cross the ball which has seen him thrive over the last two seasons, having racked up a combined 24 assists over the last two campaigns.

With an average of 5.94 crosses per 90, it's easy to see why he has been racking up the assists and why the chances that he has created have guaranteed him a minimum 12.2 xA.

With his gift of direct attacking threat from deep and ability to whip the ball into the danger zone, imagine the partnership between the "marauding" Raum and Haaland. With the Norwegian's presence as a target man, Guardiola is expected to tweak his tactics slightly to achieve a more direct and faster approach.

The biggest change in achieving this will come from his full-backs - more specifically, the left full-back, which will allow City to deploy a different asymmetrical set-up to the one we have seen between the partnership of Cancelo and Walker.

Although the partnership between a left-back and a centre-forward is not obvious, if the move is to come to fruition, Haaland will be gifted an easy introduction to life in the Premier League.

In other news: Man City submit formal bid to sign "superb" £60m titan, Pep will be buzzing