Sports
Manchester City Plan £200m Summer Spree For Rodri, Jovic, De Ligt, Aouar
Pep Guardiola is targeting as many as four new faces to keep Manchester City on top in a spree that could reach £200million.
Guardiola wants to ‘freshen up’ his squad with a defender, two midfielders and a striker on the agenda.
Atletico Madrid central midfielder Rodri is a target, with City mindful of a need to find competition for Fernandinho, who turned 34 this month.
Sporting director Txiki Begiristain made a personal check on Rodri, 22, recently. The Spain international’s release clause is £60m.
City have watched Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic, while there is interest in Benfica’s Joao Felix, 19.
Jovic, valued at around £50m, is a target for a number of the continent’s top clubs, including Real Madrid, but Frankfurt are likely to resist offers should they qualify for Europe.
Sources suggest City’s decision to call off the pursuit of Leicester left back Ben Chilwell is down to prioritising a new centre back.
They have been in the conversation about Matthijs de Ligt’s prospective move away from Ajax but Guardiola admits City struggle to compete for players who Barcelona are also interested in.
Guardiola is also an admirer of Leicester’s Harry Maguire and wants a creative midfielder, especially if Ilkay Gundogan departs. Houssem Aouar of Lyon shone during the Champions League group games.
The threat of a transfer ban looms, although that is unlikely to affect this summer’s plans.
Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph and Eliaquim Mangala are among those who could leave the club.
Former Al-Ittihad star Mohammed Noor has slammed Karim Benzema over his move to Al-Hilal.
The Ballon d’Or winner quit Al-Ittihad after being left unhappy with their new contract offer.
An unimpressed Noor snapped: “Karim Benzema’s contract was set to expire on June 30, 2026, and he received two offers from Al-Ittihad to renew it, but he stalled.
“Benzema had already reached an agreement with Al-Hilal without the knowledge of the Al-Ittihad board. Then he came to pressure the club’s management, who had made him offers, but he didn’t respond because he had already agreed everything with the Al-Hilal board.
“He reached an agreement with Al-Hilal and had a bad exit from Al-Ittihad. Didn’t the fans who supported him and chanted his name for so long deserve a thank you before he left?
“He’s the loser, not Al-Ittihad.”
Manchester United Champions League winner Owen Hargreaves has praised manager Michael Carrick for fixing the balance of their midfield.
Hargreaves believes the rejigging from Carrick has brought out the best in Bruno Fernandes, who struck in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Tottenham.
Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “Let’s be honest, 200 goal involvements is ridiculous. They’re Playstation numbers. He plays with risk but it’s risk that the team benefits from.
“Kobbie (Mainoo) in behind was fantastic again and Casemiro… those three were probably the three best players in the game, in my opinion.
“We said beforehand, under Ruben Amorim, that midfield was a weakness but that midfield three is really good.
“Obviously Bruno is the best player by a country mile and I just think they look so much stronger now as a midfield three.”
Man United are reportedly looking to sign AC Milan and USMNT star Christian Pulisic in the summer.
The 27-year-old has been a key player for AC Milan since joining from Chelsea back in 2023, scoring 43 goals and providing 22 assists in his 121 games.
According to Calcio Mercato via GiveMeSport, Pulisic’s fine form in Italy has caught the attention of Man United, who are keen on bringing him back to the Premier League.
It’s understood that AC Milan are reluctant to sell Pulisic, but a deal could be sanction for a fee of around £48 million.
Pulisic’s contract with the Serie A giants is set to expire in the summer of 2027 with talks over a new deal yet to progress.
<im
-
Entertainment4 years agoBBNaija: “Shameful For A Married Woman” – Boma, Tega Doing ‘Stuff’ Under Duvet Sparks Outrage (See Video)
-
Entertainment4 years agoSinger, Oxlade In Big Mess After His Sex Tape With A Strange Lady Surfaces Online (Watch Video)
-
Entertainment5 years agoBBNaija: Kiddwaya Sucks Erica’s Boobs, Licks Dorathy’s Neck In Truth Or Dare Game (Video)
-
Entertainment3 years agoI’m Not Ashamed Of My Leaked Nude Photos, Ifunanya Confesses (See Photos)
-
Crime7 months agoNDLEA intercepts Saudi, UK-bound cocaine in lipsticks
-
Entertainment5 years agoI’m Not Sick But Only Lost Some Weight – Kiss Daniel
-
Crime9 months agoNDLEA seizes N3.4bn worth of opioids in Lagos, PH, uncovers drugs in chocolate tins
-
Entertainment5 years agoHow Women Should Act During Sex – Actress, Blessing Okoro Reveals (Vdeo)