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The departure of Manchester City’s long-term leader and captain may have come as a surprise to many, but in typical City fashion, they are wasting no time in their search for a Vincent Kompany replacement.

Prior to the arrival of Pep Guardiola, the central defence position was a problem which plagued the Citizens season after season.

But with the departure of such a key figure – on and off the field – and a burning desire of everyone at the club to go one step further than their current achievements and win the Champions League, they will need to ensure that the player they bring in is up to the task.

Harry Maguire is that man, and the Englishman’s performances at club and international level are convincing enough to make him Pep’s number one target.

The Daily Mail report that the City manager put Maguire at the top of his shopping list after City’s 1-0 victory over Leicester earlier this month – a match in which Maguire's side almost kept a rare clean sheet against the league’s highest scorers but for a Kompany wonder strike.

If Guardiola does manage to lure one of his primary targets to the club, the cost of the deal could surpass what Liverpool paid to secure Virgil van Dijk.

The arrival of Maguire would also help to boost the numbers of English players in City’s squad, and possibly re-form the England partnership with John Stones.

Both players were key in England’s impressive World Cup run, but since then Maguire has been the more impressive of the two and his progression shows no signs of slowing down. At his current rate, he could become a world beater in the same mould as the departing skipper.

Stones meanwhile, has had a stop-start season, making just two starts in City’s last fifteen matches, and has been dropped in many key matches this season, particularly in the Champions League.

Furthermore, although both players are known for their ability on the ball, which is key for a Pep side, Maguire exceeds his compatriot on a number of key stats this season, most notably in interceptions and aerials won.

This is what makes Maguire stand out from Stones and the rest. His presence in both boxes is crucial and would bring an extra dimension to the City defence, providing an aggressive and physical edge which Stones lacks.

However, the style of play of the teams they play for is a factor influencing these stats. City, after all, are rarely without possession and as such do not spend as much time as Leicester on the back foot, meaning there is less opportunity for the City man to make interceptions. In addition, Maguire has made seven appearances more in the Premier League.

More surprisingly perhaps, is that Maguire has performed better this season in an area where Stones has become renowned for – his ability on the ball.

Maguire made more than double the amount of key passes, and 11 more successful dribbles, than Stones. Given City’s dominance of the ball, this statistic is even more impressive.

Maguire has already proved himself on the highest stage. He is constantly improving and is arguably the most all-round defender in the league. Under Pep’s guidance, he could become a pivotal member of the team, and make City fans forget all about Vinny Kompany.