New Man City signing could be the fastest player in Champions League

Manchester City’s transfer strategy this summer has included a definite decision to improve the pace of the squad.

That might sound odd when they have just sold Leror Sane, who was clocked as the quickest player in the Premier League a couple of years ago, with one newspaper observing – bizarrely – that he was as “fast as a T Rex”.

But Sane’s departure was unavoidable, as he wanted to go, and the fact that the two players coming in off the proceeds of the Germany winger’s sale to Bayern Munich will make the Blues sharper at both ends of the pitch, is a plus.

Nathan Ake will give a turn of pace to central defence, an area which has been a serious shortcoming in the last year or two.

And Ferran Torres, who looks set to sign for the Blues this week, will bring searing pace to the front line.

The 20-year-old was clocked as the second-fastest forward in La Liga last season, behind Levante flier Hernani, at 34.91 kms per hour (21.69mph).

That would not put him in the top ten in the Premier League, and he will still be slower than the turbo-charged Kyle Walker, who recorded the second top speed in the country last season, but there appears to be a difference in the way player speeds are calibrated in England and other parts of Europe.

A burst of the kind of pace that had him in La Liga top six, would have made him the quickest in the Champions League last season.