Manchester City required to make ‘breathtakingly high offer’ to sign Bundesliga defensive midfielder – Interest ‘well known’ | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City are required to make a staggering proposal in order to sign Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz, according to reports.

Etihad Stadium officials are widely expected to be on the hunt for new recruits during the upcoming January transfer window, and among the positions to be at the very top of the club’s priority list if defensive midfield.

Pep Guardiola’s side are falling deeper into a season-destructing run of form and lost once again to make it just one win in their last 11 matches across all competitions at the weekend, this time at the hands of Manchester United.

Bruno Fernandes’ second-half penalty and a late-winning goal from Amad Diallo cancelled out Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header to leave Manchester City at serious risk of dropping out of the Premier League’s top-five entirely.

Many supporters are calling for immediate action and as part of that, the club should be looking towards the January transfer window for the start of a major and necessary rebuild with various positions, including defensive midfield, needing investment.

According to the information of Bild, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz is on Manchester City’s transfer agenda, with their interest in the 22-year-old ‘well known’.

However, it is stated that the Premier League champions would have to make a ‘breathtakingly high offer’ for the German club to even consider selling the defensive midfielder during the upcoming January window.

Speaking on the prospect of losing top players including Reitz, Gladbach managing director Roland Virkus explained, “Our goal is of course not to give up a top player, that’s very clear. After all, we’re currently in the process of stabilising ourselves and getting better step by step.

“It’s true that there are desires, that’s completely normal when you perform well. But we are in a very comfortable situation. Rocco represents the path that this club wants to take, which we had previously neglected. He can become one of the faces of the whole club!

“You always have to be prepared for all scenarios. It may also be that we bring in someone else if, for example, there is already a chance to do something that is planned for the summer. For one or two players, a loan might also be conceivable.”

It remains to be seen at this stage who is Manchester City’s priority target when it comes to the defensive midfield ranks, with interest also known in the likes of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Atalanta’s Ederson.

However, there is understood to be a keen interest from Pep Guardiola specifically in Newcastle United and Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes, with some reports indicating a desire from the player to join Manchester City, too.

City rejected the opportunity to sign the 27-year-old during the last summer transfer window, when it was believed that his contract included a £100 million release clause, deemed too expensive by the Premier League champions’ decision makers.