The Search for the “New Walker”: Why Manchester City have Intensified Their Pursuit of Amar Dedić

In the high-stakes world of elite football, the January transfer window is often a theater of the desperate. But for Manchester City, a club defined by meticulous long-term planning, their mid-season activity usually carries a different weight. This year, the spotlight has swung decisively toward Lisbon. Reports from across Europe, corroborated by scouts in Bosnia and Portugal, indicate that City have “intensified” their pursuit of Benfica’s Amar Dedić, a 23-year-old right-back who has become the subject of glowing reports sitting on Pep Guardiola’s desk.

The timing is no coincidence. As the 2025/26 campaign enters its most grueling phase, City find themselves at a crossroads. The era of Kyle Walker is drawing to a close, and a fresh defensive crisis has forced the club’s recruitment team to accelerate their transition plan.

The Tactical Vacuum: Life After the “Human Ferrari”

For nearly a decade, Kyle Walker provided Manchester City with a unique insurance policy. His “recovery pace”—the ability to chase down elite attackers in 50-yard sprints—allowed Guardiola to push his defensive line to the halfway point. However, with Walker now 35 and playing out the twilight of his career at Burnley, City have struggled to find a direct successor who combines that raw athleticism with technical security.

The current season has exposed this vulnerability. While Rico Lewis is a tactical prodigy, he lacks the physical profile to dominate the wide channels defensively. Matheus Nunes has been shoehorned into the role out of necessity, and while he offers industry, he is not a natural defender. The urgency for a specialist reached a boiling point in early January 2026, following a “horror injury diagnosis” for Joško Gvardiol (fractured foot) and a hamstring blow to Rúben Dias.

With the defensive rotation stretched to its limit, the search for a right-back is no longer a “summer luxury”—it has become a “January priority.”

Who is Amar Dedić?

Amar Dedić is not a name that would have been on many Premier League radars two years ago, but his rise has been meteoric. A product of the famed Red Bull Salzburg academy—the same system that polished Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai—Dedić moved to Benfica in July 2025 for a modest €12 million.

In just six months at the Estádio da Luz, he has seen his valuation quadruple. The Bosnian international has become the engine room of Benfica’s right flank, recording 30 appearances already this season.

The Statistical Profile (2025/26 Season)

What makes Dedić so attractive to Guardiola is a statistical profile that mirrors the modern “inverted” full-back requirements:

Dedić is more than a defender; he is a ball-carrier. His ability to receive the ball in deep areas and drive past the first line of the press is elite. Scouts have reportedly highlighted his “pace over distance” and his “confidence carrying the ball from deep” as traits that would allow City to maintain their high-line philosophy.

The Benfica Blockade

Despite City’s intensification, the deal remains complex. Having only signed Dedić last summer, Benfica are under no financial pressure to sell. He is under contract until 2030, and club president Rui Costa has historically been a fierce negotiator (as seen in the €121m Enzo Fernández saga).

Current reports suggest:

The Price Tag: Benfica has slapped a £50m to £51m (€60m) valuation on the player.
The Timing: Benfica’s stance is currently a firm “not in January.” They view Dedić as indispensable for their Champions League knockout run and domestic title charge.
City’s Leverage: City’s recent £62.5m signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth proves they have the liquidity to move. If City meet the valuation upfront, Benfica’s resolve may be tested.

The “Pep Profile”: How Dedić Fits

In a Guardiola system, a full-back is rarely just a full-back. They are required to be a third center-back in possession, a second holding midfielder in the transition, and a traditional winger in the final third.

Dedić’s versatility is his greatest asset. At Salzburg and Benfica, he has featured at:

**Right-back (73% of games): His natural home.

Left-back (5% of games): Providing cover for the injured Gvardiol.
Central Defense: He has the physical frame (180cm) to tuck inside during a mid-game tactical shift.

While scouts note he still has “work to do on the defensive side of his game” compared to the world-class standards of a prime Walker, his offensive output is undeniable. With 1 goal and 3 assists this season, he offers a verticality that City have missed on the right side.

The Verdict: Will the Deal Happen?

As of mid-January 2026, the situation is “measured rather than reactive.” City have made direct contact to assess the conditions of the deal, jumping ahead of other interested parties like AS Roma and Newcastle United.

If Manchester City can negotiate the fee down toward the £45m mark, or if Benfica’s domestic form falters, a late-window move is highly probable. However, if the Portuguese giants remain stubborn, City may have to rely on their “make-shift” back four until the summer.

Regardless of the timing, one thing is clear: Amar Dedić is the chosen successor for the right-back throne at the Etihad.