THE KINGS takes a look at the biggest transfer news and rumours involving Manchester City
As per 90min, Manchester City striker Julián Álvarez is disappointed with the minutes he has seen on the pitch since joining from River Plate last summer.
Álvarez has impressed with Manchester City despite the limited playing time, scoring 5 goals in 6 starts in the Premier League. City are offering him a 5-year contract extension, but the report states he’s not sure of agreeing to it.
As per journalist Fabrizio Romano (on CaughtOffside), Manchester City target and AC Milan ace Rafael Leão prefers remaining at San Siro and extending his contract beyond 2024.
According to earlier reports, Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of the Portuguese winger and wants to sign him in the summer to reinforce Manchester City’s squad.
However, according to Romano, AC Milan could renew Leão before anyone can make a move for him.
According to Calciomercatoweb, Inter Milan may consider making a move for Manchester City striker Julián Álvarez next summer.
Inter Milan aren’t sure if they will be able to retain Romelu Lukaku on loan for another season, and in case he returns to Chelsea they will go for Álvarez who isn’t seeing much play time at Manchester City right now.
As per Fichajes, Manchester City will have to pay a price in the range of €75m to sign Brighton midfielder and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister in the summer.
Mac Allister is seen as the ideal midfield addition by the Manchester City administration to bolster the squad with Bernardo Silva and İlkay Gündoğan’s futures at City unknown.
The report states that Manchester City will have to beat the likes of Atletico Madrid to sign the Argentinian midfielder next season.
Joao Cancelo, who has joined Bayern Munich on loan from Manchester City till the conclusion of the current campaign, has spoken candidly about his future and discussed how choosing to join the Bavarians was an easy choice for him.
“I need to play to be happy. I respect Guardiola’s decision, for me it was easy to accept Bayern as they have a great history,” the 28-year-old revealed in an interview with O Jogo.
“Bayern have an option to buy, I don’t know if they will pay that but I will give my best for the club.”
Cancelo: “I need to play to be happy. I respect Guardiola’s decision, for me it was easy to accept Bayern as they have a great history”, tells O Jogo 🇵🇹 #MCFC“Bayern have an option to buy, I don’t know if they will pay that but I will give my best for the club” #FCBayern pic.twitter.com/sDbxpLlMbt
According to Fichajes, Manchester City are already in negotiations with Brighton to sign World Cup winner and midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in the summer.
As per the report, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a huge admirer of Mac Allister, and the Cityzens are willing to pay Brighton’s asking price of €60m for him.
According to Football Insider, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva is keen on making a move to Barcelona in the summer. Silva has been linked to Barca since last year, and the Catalans want to bring him to Camp Nou in the next window.
However, Manchester City’s asking price of £70m is currently putting them off from bidding for the Portuguese midfielder, states the report.
According to Pete O’Rourke, sources have told Football Insider that Manchester City will push Arsenal ‘all the way’ in a bid to win the race for West Ham United skipper Declan Rice.
Numerous reports have suggested that the Gunners are in pole position to land the 24-year-old, with Chelsea and Liverpool also keen on the midfielder.
According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur are ahead of Newcastle United and Manchester City in the race to capture Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.
The 26-year-old England international wants to be an integral player for any club he joins down the line, a role likely to be offered by Spurs, who also have the financial means to complete a mega-money transfer.
It is expected that a bid £60m to £70m should be enough to sign Maddison, with his current contract at the King Power Stadium expiring in 2024.
PSG superstar Neymar is no longer wanted by the club who are reportedly looking to sell him in the next window. One of the clubs who have been linked with Brazil’s all-time top scorer is Manchester City.
However, now El Nacional reports that Manchester City boss doesn’t want Neymar at the club due to doubts regarding his professionalism and off-field behaviour.
According to Fichajes, Atletico Madrid are interested in making a move for Manchester City target and Inter Milan defender Federico Dimarco if they sell João Félix.
Earlier Manchester City were linked with Dimarco as a possible replacement for João Cancelo, who could leave permanently in the summer.
According to Football Insider, Manchester City will have to compete with Top 4 rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of Leicester City ace James Maddison.
Maddison continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise torrid season for Leicester City. Earlier reports suggested Pep Guardiola wants to sign him to revamp Manchester City, but bringing him over to the Etihad may not be easy.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar could be ready to end his chapter at the Parc des Princes and join the Premier League by signing for Manchester City in the summer, according to Pete O’Rourke (h/t @City_Xtra)
City have been contacted regarding a potential summer deal for Neymar, with a fee around £70M-£80M reported to be enough to convince PSG to sell the Brazilian.
However, the financial package required to sign the player (player wages, add-ons, signing bonus etc) could complicate the deal and make it unlikely for City to go ahead with it.
Manchester City do not want to lose forward Julian Alvarez at any cost and are preparing a new deal with increased salary, according to The Mirror (h/t Fichajes).
City are aware of the interest in Alvarez from top clubs across Europe following a great World Cup in Qatar. Even though he is a second-choice striker behind Erling Haaland, he has managed to score 9 goals in 29 appearances.
The board will offer a new contract at the end of the season, just one year after he was signed from River Plate.
Sevilla want to sign Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez on loan for the next season, per Fichajes.
Even though Gomez has been on the periphery under Pep Guardiola, playing less than 100 minutes in total in the Premier League, Man City consider him to be a promising bet for the future and believe a loan move could help the youngster’s development.
Manchester City defender Nathan Ake is set to receive a massive 50% pay rise in the new contract offer that is being prepared for the Dutchman, according to the Daily Star.
Ake’s weekly wages will rise from £80,000 to £120,000 as the Cityzens are keen to reward the 28-year-old for his fine performances over the season, which has seen him become a prominent member of Pep Guardiola’s backline.
According to 90Min, Manchester City is working behind the scenes to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United and hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the midfielder.
With Kalvin Phillips’ future at Etihad under the scanner and Ilkay Gundogan on the verge of leaving City, Rice’s signature becomes a priority for Pep Guardiola.
Man City would receive stiff competition from several clubs but their competitors would know that it won’t be easy financially competing with the reigning Premier League champions.
Manchester City are among the clubs interested in Gianluca Prestianni. That’s according to Tuttosport, who believe that some of Europe’s biggest sides are vying to sign the Argentine forward from Velez Sarsfield.
Barcelona are said to be the front-runners, though their loan-to-buy offer may fall short. The report adds Man City boss Pep Guardiola has personally called the 17-year-old, while there’s also interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona have held a meeting with the agent of Manchester City captain and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan yesterday.
According to Bild journalist Christian Falk, who wrote an exclusive column for CaughtOffside, the Germany international is open to a move to Catalonia to join his idol Xavi at Barcelona, but may be persuaded to stay in Manchester owing to Pep Guardiola extending his own tenure at the Eithad.
Falk wrote: “Barcelona is actually an option for Ilkay Gündogan. Xavi has always been his role model and he learned a lot of tricks and playing styles from the former midfielder on YouTube.
“His agent and uncle, Ilkay Gündogan, is currently assessing the market and opportunities at Barcelona. However, Andreas Christensen is also one of his clients. Manchester City remains a priority for Ilkay and he can imagine staying, especially now that Pep Guardiola has signed a new contract.
“But: Barcelona is Ilkay’s No.2 option, which sets the scene for a bit of poker between City and Barca. City will have the advantage if the club wants to keep Ilkay and makes it financially worth his while.”
Recent reports have suggested that Barcelona are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Illkay Gundogan, and have held a meeting with the agent of the German international.
