Borussia Dortmund make contact with Manchester City over €40 million defender’s potential Bundesliga transfer | OneFootball

Manchester City have now received contact from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund over the potential for a deal regarding Brazil international right-back Yan Couto.

The 22-year-old faces a crossroads in his top-level professional playing career having returned to the Premier League champions following a hugely successful loan spell at Girona during their victorious pursuit of UEFA Champions League football for next season.

Whilst some were hoping that Couto could return to Girona for yet another campaign under Míchel, UEFA rules have meant that Manchester City can no longer engage in transfer activity with their sister club until at least September 2025.

Due to both teams competing in next season’s Champions League, UEFA confirmed this month they “will not transfer players to each other, permanently or on loan, directly or indirectly, from July 2024 until September 2025, with the exception of pre-existing transfer agreements”.

As such, Yan Couto’s future has been opened up to other potential suitors this summer, with the Brazil international unsurprisingly not short of destinations, and the latest to communicate their desire to sign the player from Manchester City come from Germany.

According to the information of transfer market insider Fabrizio Romano, Borussia Dortmund have now made contact with Manchester City to discuss the conditions of a deal for highly-rated right-back talent, Yan Couto.

However, there are expected to be differences in valuations at this stage, with the report stating that Dortmund have no intention to pay the player’s €40 million Manchester City release clause, instead opting to negotiate on the price while the player is keen on the move.

From the side of the German club, it is explained that their aim is to invest between €20 million and €25 million into the signing of the 22-year-old, who spent last season on-loan at Girona in La Liga.

Sky Sports Germany’s Patrick Berger has further revealed that Manchester City are demanding around €30 million for Yan Couto, which would indicate a willingness to complete a deal for below the aforementioned release clause at the Etihad.

Yan Couto’s right-back talent colleague at Manchester City, Issa Kabore, is also on the transfer agenda of several clubs, and has been left out of Pep Guardiola’s travelling squad in the United States in order to finalise his future this summer.

Having spent the last season on loan with Luton Town, a number of Premier League clubs could yet look into the possibility of making a move happen, although it is unknown how much Manchester City value the Burkina Faso international at in the market.

Elsewhere in the right-back berth and City are expecting to start the upcoming season with Kyle Walker maintaining his place as their first-choice in the role, with support from the likes of Rico Lewis, John Stones, and Manuel Akanji.