Manchester City are reportedly interested in Porto midfielder Alan Varela, as per Maisfutebol. The Premier League champions have been monitoring the Argentinian Under 20 international since his time at Boca Juniors and have continued to closely watch him following his move to Porto.
While there are currently no negotiations taking place between the two clubs, a potential transfer could be on the cards during the summer transfer window. Varela, who is 22 years old, joined Porto for €8m last year and his contract includes a release clause of €70m (£60m) which City may need to activate if they want to sign him.
Although Porto often sell their best players to balance their finances, there is a possibility that City could negotiate a lower transfer fee. Other Premier League clubs such as Manchester United, Aston Villa, and West Ham have also shown interest in Varela, with scouts from these teams reportedly watching him in action, particularly during his impressive performance against Arsenal in the Champions League.
Following the match against Arsenal, Porto has played three more games, including a draw against Gil Vicente, a win against Santa Clara in the Portuguese Cup, and a dominant 5-0 victory over Benfica. City has maintained a watching brief on Varela, but their ongoing interest suggests that a bid could materialize in the future.
Overall, it seems that City is considering making a move for Varela, although they face competition from other Premier League clubs and may need to navigate negotiations with Porto to secure the midfielder’s services.
