Manchester City have reportedly prepared a bid of around €65m (£54.7m) for Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso.
The reigning Premier League champions were unusually active in the winter transfer window. January has typically been a period used by City to snap up young gems, often from South America, before immediately sending them out on loan. Ever since the arrival of Aymeric Laporte in 2018, the winter addition has not been immediately incorporated into the Cityfirst team.
Desperate times called for drastic measures. Pep Guardiola‘s fallen giants are on the back foot in the country and on the continent. After a mini-post-Christmas revival, City’s newfound fragility showed again as they conceded two goals in the last eight minutes of the game A 2-2 draw away to Brentford on Tuesday.
This crisis prompted the club to sail into the unknown territory of the transfer market. City have already completed three deals worth well over £100m in total this month, with Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush expected to follow center back duo Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis through the gates of the Etihad.
But the high consumption does not stop there.
City are preparing an opening bid of €60-65m (£50-55m) for Juventus’ versatile defender Andrea Cambiaso, according to Italian reporters Gianluca Di Marzio. However, the Serie A giants will reportedly demand as much as €80m (£67m) if the Italy international leaves Turin in January.
That high figure – which is more than City are expected to pay for Khusanov and Reis combined – should scare away any interest in a mid-season switch and could be reduced next summer.
The Telegraph claim that City see Cambias as a long-term replacement for Kyle Walker, although the 24-year-old predominantly plays on the left side of defence. City’s veteran right-back could be on his way to Italy this month after Guardiola revealed the defender wanted to leave. The English publication reports that the Sky Blues would be willing to wait until next summer to sign Cambias, who could only cost around £50m by then.
According to reports, no offer has been made yet Fabrizio Romanoand a deal for Marmoush has been described as a clear “priority” before any further talks for Cambiaso begin.
READ THE LATEST MAN CITY NEWS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND GOSSIP
