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City Xtra
·19 August 2024
Liverpool could receive second major transfer blow as Manchester City eye midfield target
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City Xtra
·19 August 2024
Manchester City could issue Liverpool with further damage during the ongoing summer transfer window, having taken an interest in one of the Anfield club’s primary targets.
Savinho remains Manchester City’s only major summer arrival in the ongoing market, and while the Brazilian has shown early promise in his opening two appearances for the club, there remains a desire from within the fanbase to further strengthen.
The central midfield roles have remained an area of priority amongst supporters and club officials, but Pep Guardiola has publicly stated his content at current options, utilising the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Nico O’Reilly in deep-lying defensive midfield roles.
Contingency plans are always in place at the Etihad Stadium however, and Manchester City bosses will no doubt have their eyes on how the first-team will operate moving forward, especially with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in their twilight years.
That search has now seemingly drawn them towards one name that was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool, prior to a last minute snubbing from the player himself in a remarkable turn of events.
According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, Real Sociedad and Spain’s Martin Zubimendi has been discussed as a potential target within the Etihad Stadium, in light of the recent collapse of a proposed move to Liverpool.
However, it is further explained that manager Pep Guardiola would still prefer the signing of Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes over other candidates for his midfield recruitment charge. But in general, the City head coach ‘just wants business done’ in the weeks that remain.
At present, it remains unknown as to whether either player would be available for a price agreeable for Manchester City during the ongoing market, but many would presume that the funds are available for the Premier League champions to sanction a big investment.
Alongside exits for the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Sergio Gomez, and other fringe first-team names in multi-million pound agreements, Julian Alvarez’s initial €75 million move to Atletico Madrid makes up the most part of their incoming monies.
There have already been suggestions that Guimaraes and Newcastle could target deals in excess of £90 million, whilst Manchester City are understood to be valuing the player at close to what they deemed appropriate for Lucas Paqueta last summer; £80 million.