Manchester City approach camp of £100 million Premier League star as Rodri compliment targeted | OneFootball

As part of Manchester City’s ongoing search for a player to compliment Rodri for future years, the Premier League champions have reportedly made an approach.

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City coaches have become increasingly aware of the necessity for an able back-up to the aforementioned Spanish international several times across the ongoing season.

With Kalvin Phillips’ struggles to embed himself into Guardiola’s plans and his eventual loan move to West Ham United, coupled with injury concerns and suspensions for Rodri at various moments, City now realise that they will need to invest in their midfield ranks.

That search for an able compliment to Rodri has led them to a number of names, as players known for their defensive midfield and more versatile abilities come to light through media reports covering Manchester City’s pursuit.

Alongside links to the likes of Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich and FC Porto’s Alan Varela, some claims have tied Manchester City with an interest in profiles closer to home, with Bruno Guimaraes emerging as one possible opportunity for the club.

Now, according to the information of journalist Ben Jacobs writing in a new transfer report for 90Min, Manchester City have ‘already approached’ the camp of Newcastle United and Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

It is further reiterated that City are looking for a player to ‘compliment’ defensive midfield mainstay Rodri and ‘like’ the fact that Guimaraes can play as both a number six or a number eight. Additionally, West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta is still a potential target.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given Guimaraes’ exceptional abilities in a variety of roles, it is further reported that Manchester City are not alone in their interest in the 26-year-old, with both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain attentive to his development.

But just how much would a deal for Bruno Guimaraes cost for any club this summer? Ben Jacobs reveals that while Newcastle would ‘naturally love to keep’ Guimaraes, the situation is taken out of their control if the midfielder’s £100 million release clause is triggered.

In a further detail that could encourage readers, the report goes on to reveal that there is also a ‘verbal agreement’ in place that Guimaraes will be ‘allowed to talk to’ Champions League clubs, and that ‘offers will be engaged with’ providing they exceed £80 million.

Simultaneously, and irrespective of their interest in emerging talents and opportunities from across the top-level European game, Manchester City will be working to retain the services of their most crucial figures in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Bernardo Silva is widely expected to field approaches from Europe’s biggest clubs this summer, especially amid his long-standing desire for fresh opportunities closer to his native Portugal, and the instalment of a £50 million release clause in his Manchester City contract.

Elsewhere and Kevin De Bruyne’s Etihad Stadium career remains somewhat uncertain, with the Belgian rapidly approaching the final year of his Manchester City contract, and a growing sense of interest from the Saudi Pro League.

It is widely understood that Saudi Arabian transfer bosses have identified the 32-year-old playmaker as a primary target for the forthcoming transfer window, and realise that they would have to invest in excess of £100 million to tempt City into a sale.