One of Manchester City’s biggest problem areas this term has, of course, been their centre-back spot.
The Sky Blues parted ways with captain and club legend Vincent Kompany last summer – before opting not to replace the Belgian.
City then lost Aymeric Laporte to injury for a good chunk of the season.
The Frenchman’s injury, along with Kompany’s absence, highlighted the clear lack of quality in Man City’s backline.
19-year-old Eric Garcia has been afforded a few chances alongside Laporte of late, and has largely impressed.
But it is quite clear that both Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones are simply not up to scratch, with the need for reinforcements at the back this summer a clear priority for City.
Gran trabajo del equipo ante un rival muy difícil #AúpaAtleti
A post shared by Jose Maria Gimenez (@josemariagimenez) on Jul 16, 2020 at 3:04pm PDT
In recent weeks, Napoli standout Kalidou Koulibaly has been linked with a move to the Etihad.
But, as mentioned above, a fresh update regarding the Manchester powerhouse’s pursuit of a centre-back has since emerged.
Speaking on the latest edition of The Transfer Window Podcast, Duncan Castles stated that whilst Koulibaly is City’s preferred choice, they have reservations about dealing with the Naples-based outfit:
Obviously Koulibaly the preferred choice they have reservations, however, about dealing with Napoli – given the problems that they’ve had with Napoli in the past over Jorginho, expensive in terms of wages too.
As a result, Man City are said to be eyeing a number of other centre-back options ahead of the summer window.
The first is 27-year-old Sevilla defender Diego Carlos:
Therefore they [Man City] have been looking at two players in Spain one of them is Diego Carlos, Brazilian 27 year old at Sevilla whose had just one season in La Liga, signed from Nantes last year for €15m, is contracted to the club until 2024. But they see him as an alternative powerful physical presence fast with the ability to play the ball, to fit into that defence alongside Aymeric Laporte.
However, Castles adds that Sevilla’s qualification for the Champions League may have made such a deal more difficult:
Difficulty there for them in terms of transfer fees is that Sevilla have qualified for the Champions League, so you’d have seen that deal is one that would have been easier to do for Manchester City had Sevilla not made Champions League and secured the revenue that’s available there.
The second La Liga defender whom the Citizens are believed to be eyeing is Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez.
Again, though, it is worth noting that Atletico are said to have made clear that they will not part with the Uruguayan for less than €100m:
Another player in Spain that Manchester City have tracked for quite along time, I can tell you there been in contact with Atletico to ask them what kind of price they would be prepared to sell their Uruguay international Jose Gimenez to city
I’m told Atletico did not respond well to the inquiry on behalf of Manchester City as to Gimenez’s availability, and suggested that a fee over €100m would be appropriate should city, who have now been relieved of their Champions League ban, be determined to buy the player.
Abraham contract talks Chelsea ‘firing £50 notes’ at Havertz • Man Utd’s official assistance Man City shortlist Gimenez + Diego Carlos • Mbappe + Madrid Who can coach Messi’s Barca? Sergio Ramos awardhttps://t.co/yaeBz7wpT2 pic.twitter.com/PzCRcoRxeX
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) July 17, 2020
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This article was edited by Conor Laird.
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