Manchester City identify ‘key’ position to be strengthened during summer transfer window – Italian star ‘high on the list’ | OneFootball

Etihad officials have placed right-back among the ‘key’ positions to be strengthened in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad this summer, according to reports.

That strategy follows a season of inconsistencies in the role with various members of Pep Guardiola’s squad having operated in the position at different points of the campaign, largely due to fitness and injury blows.

Kyle Walker was seen as the starting right-back by those in coaching positions at Manchester City when the season started, but his deteriorating performances and a request to leave the club during the January transfer window brought uncertainty and a lack of stability.

Academy graduate Rico Lewis has been utilised by Pep Guardiola on various occasions when needing a player to invert into defensive midfield, while Matheus Nunes offers pace, strength, and ball-carrying ability as a traditional right-sided full-back option.

But the performances at right-back for Manchester City on most occasions this season have been somewhat concerning, and as such it appears as though club officials are keen to bring in a more natural solution to the problem during the summer transfer window.

That is according to the information of transfer market insider Fabrizio Romano, who reports that the right-back position remains one of the key roles to be covered by Manchester City with a new signing in the upcoming summer window.

After interest first emerged during the winter market, it is further insisted that Juventus and Italy international Andrea Cambiaso remains ‘high on the list’ of possible targets held by Etihad Stadium officials.

Manchester City were heavily linked with a move for the 25-year-old during the winter market in a deal that would have seen the club’s overall spend exceed £200 million. However, a lack of time meant no agreement would be found.

In fact, the Premier League champions themselves were keen to insist upon their belief that while they were interested in Cambiaso, it was being seen as a deal more aimed at completion during the closed-season.

The summer window could also see Kyle Walker bring a permanent close to his time with Manchester City, as AC Milan hold an option to buy the veteran defender upon the conclusion of their loan agreement for a fee in the region of €5 million.