Journalist Fabrizio Romano has recently provided some details about Manchester City’s centre-back situation.
It has been clear for some time that, even after landing Nathan Ake, Pep Guardiola remains keen to bring another centre-back to the Etihad this summer.
So far, Kalidou Koulibaly, Jose Gimenez and Diego Carlos amongst others have been linked with the Sky Blues.
The Citizens have been trying to sign Koulibaly for much of the transfer window. It’s been a hard fight, with the Serie A club’s president wanting a huge fee and being unrealistic regarding his prospects of getting it.
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As a result City started targeting Sevilla’s Diego Carlos and Atletico Maldrid’s Jose Giménez as alternatives if Napoli are not prepared to lower their demands of of about €80m (£73.2m) for the center-back.
Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘Here We Go podcast’, Romano shed some light on City’s chase of Koulibaly, José Maria Giménez and Diego Carlos as potential alternatives.
“Jose Gimenez is for sure, with Koulibaly, the most appreciated centre-back target for Manchester City. If they pick one, I think they will pick Giménez,” Romano said.
“So in this moment, I’m told that Manchester City, for a centre-back, are not going to spend €120m. They are going to try for €80m [or] €75m – that’s the idea of Manchester City, but not for Koulibaly. They are not going to spend like €80m for Koulibaly; they are convinced the value of Koulibaly is around €65m. Napoli want €75m to sell Koulibaly.”
“So at the moment, there is no agreement for Koulibaly. We will see, because the player also is desperate to understand what will happen. We’re going to start the Serie A [season], he was convinced to join Manchester City, we have to say this. So now, it is up to the club.”
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