Manchester City set sights on £43.2m-valued star as viable alternative to Koulibaly

Manchester City’s underwhelming 2019/20 Premier League campaign laid bare the defensive frailties in Pep Guardiola’s squad. As lethal as the Citizens are going forward, they are porous at the back.

Pep Guardiola is ready to raid the transfer market in a bid to put Manchester City back on top of the Premier League after failing to keep pace with Jurgen Klopp’s relentless Liverpool this season, seeing the Reds streak to the title with seven games to spare

City’s need for a centre-half is greater, with Pep Guardiola and the hierarchy having made the position a priority this summer, after the problems encountered in the wake of Vincent Kompany’s retirement this summer.

Koulibaly and Milan Skriniar have been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League for several transfer windows now after establishing themselves as one of Europe’s most formidable defenders.

Koulibaly has been cited as a top target but according to a report from journalist Miguel Delaney in the Independent, Man City could be more tempted to make a swoop for £43.2 million-valued Inter Milan stalwart Milan Skriniar over Kalidou Koulibaly this summer depending on the result of CAS appeal.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA ruled in February that City had committed serious breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and failed to cooperate with its investigation, handing them a ban and a 30 million euro (24.9 million pounds) fine

City’s appeal against the ban was heard last month at the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) and a decision is expected by 13 July. Pep Guardiola recently said he is confident the club will win their appeal against a two-year UEFA ban from European football.

If the ban were to be upheld, Skriniar proves to be a more viable alternative to Koulibaly given his younger age and the fact he could move to the Etihad for a cheaper fee.

Pep Guardiola is credited with a long-term interest in Skriniar, who according to reports is no longer deemed an ‘indispensible asset’, and the Inter hierarchy are sounding out interested buyers.