Man City will enter the summer transfer market in search of a new left-back.
Pep Guardiola has not had a proper full-back in the role since Joao Cancelo lost his place at the Manchester club midway through the 2022/23 campaign, with the City boss opting to use centre-backs in the position since, which has brought great results.
Man City fans have asked for Josko Gvardiol to remain at centre-back this season as that is the Croatian’s natural position and that seems to be the plan of Guardiola ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Full-backs have been a key part of the former Barcelona coach’s plan ever since he emerged onto the scene with the Catalan club and ahead of the summer transfer window, the Spanish coach has been provided a key update on one of his top targets.
Tottenham make transfer stance on Destiny Udogie clear
Destiny Udogie has been a key player for Ange Postecoglou this season at Tottenham with the left-back featuring in 30 games for the North London club, which would have been more had it not been for fitness issues.
Despite having a contract with Spurs until 2030, Man City are interested in Udogie and have the 22-year-old on their list of targets ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
The Premier League champions will find it difficult to sign the full-back this summer as Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has reported that Spurs want to keep Udogie next season and that he remains a key player for the London outfit, hence why they have not set a price for the Italian star.
This will be a blow for Guardiola, but the Manchester club do have alternatives. Man City have shown long-term interest in Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso, reports the BBC, while Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown is liked at the Etihad.
Signing a cheaper left-back may be the route to go for Man City this summer as the Premier League champions may need the funds to bring Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz to Manchester.
Man City ready to splash the cash on Florian Wirtz
With Kevin De Bruyne set to leave Man City this summer, it will take a special talent to replace the Belgian at the Manchester club.
Man City and Bayern Munich are set to head-to-head for Wirtz this summer and a new report from BILD suggests that the Premier League club are ready to go all in on the Germany star.
City are now believed to be prepared to meet Bayer Leverkusen’s £128M asking price, with a salary offer of around £21.5M per year. Guardiola is said to have already met with Wirtz and he has explained how he’d replace De Bruyne in his system.
This would be a very expensive acquisition for Man City this summer but given the talent and age of Wirtz, it is a risk that is worth taking.
