EXCLUSIVE: Experts Rate All Manchester City Transfer ‘Targets’

EXCLUSIVE: Experts Rate All Manchester City Transfer ‘Targets’

A look at some of the players who have been linked with moves to Manchester City this summer and what has been said about their transfers.

The club are hoping to be active in the summer transfer window having chosen not to make any additions in January and only signing Riyad Mahrez last summer.

SEE ALSO: Barcelona Looks At ‘Plan Bs' For Antoine Griezmann & Matthijs De Ligt

MEN Sport has assessed some of the most recurring rumours in the past few weeks.

Rodri

James Rodriguez

The 22-year-old is being lauded as a possible replacement for Fernandinho who is 34-years-old and coming towards the end of his career.

The Atletico Madrid man has been pivotal for them this season and has a £61million release clause.

Rodri is City's favoured midfield target this summer but the Sky Blues will have to match his release clause if they are to land him from the La Liga side.

Harry Maguire

Maguire has said on England duty this week that all he is focused on is playing for the national team and declined commenting on speculation linking him with a move to City.

There has been a lot of talk around Maguire, in a similar way it did last year off the back of a good World Cup, and there's a suggestion Pep Guardiola's side would have to pay £90million to secure his services which would then make him the most expensive defender in the country, surpassing the fee Reds paid for Virgil van Dijk.

Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes
Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes

There's always at least one transfer target who just doesn't stop adding fuel to the transfer speculation fire.

“I honestly don't know,” he told Portuguese TV channel SIC about his future.

“I like to focus on things once the season is over when I can think with calmness. The financial aspect always weights a lot, we have a short career.

“But staying here, I will always be able to raise money, it's not a financial issue. It's a matter of having dreams left to realise. It's a difficult choice, we never know what's going to happen.”

Club sources insist City are not interested in making a move for the Sporting midfielder.

Houssem Aouar

Houssem Aouar

Another young midfielder linked with a move to City is 20-year-old Lyon man Aouar.

Guardiola praised him after the two side's met in the Champions League last year: “Houssem Aouar is a very good player, he is incredible.

“We talk a lot about Ndombele, but Aouar is also excellent. He's always very calm with the ball at his feet, with excellent technical quality.”

And the player himself has talked up a move calling City as a ‘big European club' and spoken about how he would be interested in playing for Guardiola.

There's been interest and he's decidedly keen to move with his recent comments so could be one to keep an eye on.

Ben Chilwell

Leicester City's Ben Chilwell

Another young British defender who has been on Guardiola's radar and would cost the club loads of money.

Left back isn't a primary target for City this summer but they could elect to move dependent on other transfer activity.

Given the market, it would take a large sum to prise him away from Leicester.

Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele Preferred Next Club

The Lyon midfielder has the physical qualities Guardiola is after in midfield and there's been interest from other European clubs as well as City.

Jean-Michel Aulas president of the French side admitted he would preferably sell to a French club.

“I am negotiating with the biggest European clubs for Ndombele,” he told  L'Équipe.

“I'm the one who revived the PSG talks so that they don't feel dismissed. I told myself that it was the time to speak to PSG because PSG would win more by operating with French clubs.

“If PSG aligns with the three offers received and Tanguy agrees, obviously it would be nice if he goes there.”

Matthijs De Ligt

matthijs de ligt transfer

The 19-year-old is currently being linked with what appears to be every club in the land notwithstanding it seeming he would join Barcelona.

Currently, it's United who are said to be battling the La Liga giants to sign him although club sources at Old Trafford don't foresee him moving there.

There's been interest in the Ajax defender who is currently rated as one of the best centre backs in Europe but his agent is Mino Raiola and there's anxiety amongst other clubs he's using the interest to get a better deal out of Barcelona.

Joao Felix

Joao Felix

Another young talent who has been linked with a switch to the Etihad.

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The 19-year-old has been attracting a lot of interest after impressing for Benfica but it's believed it would take a bid of over £100million to get his services.

(Manchester Evening News)

This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago