A player Manchester City have been heavily linked with this summer has now reached an agreement to join another club.
City fans have seen the club sign just one player so far in this window.
Savinho completed a £33 million move from Troyes a couple of weeks ago, which was a transfer that had been expected after the clubs reached an agreement at the start of the year.
Pep Guardiola has not really suggested he is desperate for more new faces. Potentially, a couple of the young players who have been impressing on the US tour might just get the nod to move up to the first-team squad.
One player who has been heavily linked with City this summer, and certainly while Euro 2024 was going on, is Dani Olmo.
But it now looks as though the Spain international will be joining Barcelona.
Manchester City target Dani Olmo has reached an agreement with Barcelona
City were first linked with Olmo last summer, but nothing ever materialised.
He was then linked again this summer and the speculation really picked up once Olmo started shining at Euro 2024 with Spain.
He finished as the join-top goalscorer out in Germany, and wowed with his performances as a number 10. Ally McCoist branded him ‘magnificent’ during the tournament.
It was thought that City might have made a move for him, as they saw him as a potential long-term Kevin De Bruyne replacement.
But it was then claimed that some at boardroom level had reservations about Olmo’s injury record.
It has quietened down recently, and now it looks like City will not be making any swoop for the 26-year-old – because Barcelona have reached an agreement with the player and sent a big new bid to RB Leipzig.
Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano wrote on X on Thursday: “EXCLUSIVE: Barça reach agreement with Dani Olmo on contract until June 2030 and send new official bid! Details of the new proposal sent to RB Leipzig.
“Details of the deal. €55m guaranteed. €4m easy add-ons. €3m difficult add-ons. Olmo agree six-year deal, he strongly wants Barça.”
So a total fee of €64 million, which equates to £54 million, which is actually slightly more than the player’s £51 million release clause which recently expired.
Olmo is too big a risk for City
Olmo is a quality player. That has been clear from his time at RB Leipzig, and he again showed his brilliance at the Euros.
It seems it is highly likely now that he will sign for Barcelona, who are somehow managing to make such a big offer for the player.
It is understandable that Olmo would want to make that move, and return to the club where it all began for him.
City not going in for Olmo is understandable. As good as he is, he has missed a lot of games for club and country over the last few years because of injury. It is a lot of money to be paying for someone who hasn’t proven to be that reliable.
City have plenty of options to be playing in those advanced midfield positions anyway, including 2023/24 Player of the Season Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Julian Alvarez. Even Rico Lewis has even said that he wants to play more as an attacking midfielder in the upcoming season.
