Man City are now ‘main favourites’ to sign Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister this summer, according to reports.
THE LOWDOWN: GUARDIOLA LINKED…
Pep Guardiola and his Premier League champions are still very much on for a treble after beating Bristol City 3-0 at Ashton Gate last night.
Goals from Phil Foden (2) and a sumptuous long-ranger from Kevin De Bruyne confirmed City’s place in the quarter-final draw as the Blues also fight for a league title and in Europe.
Despite their business on the pitch, Guardiola’s side also have one eye past the current campaign and on potential summer transfer targets.
One name linked with a move to Eastlands is Mac Allister with a new report sharing an update.
THE LATEST: MAN CITY ‘FAVOURITES’ TO SIGN MAC ALLISTER…
According to Spanish sources, City are now the ‘main favourites’ to sign Argentina’s World Cup star, who has enjoyed a phenomenal 2022/2023 overall.
It’s claimed that they are set to battle the likes of Liverpool and Atletico Madrid for his signature later this year and wish to ‘incorporate’ Mac Allister into Guardiola’s ranks.
THE VERDICT: GREAT PLAYER…
The 24-year-old has been one of Brighton’s star players this season alongside his exploits in Qatar.
Mac Allister currently sits among their top two for best performances by average match rating, all the while attempting their third-highest rate of tackles per 90 and completed dribbles (WhoScored).
The attacking midfielder has been praised by manager Roberto De Zerbi as a ‘stunning’ player with City legend and all time top goalscorer Sergio Aguero calling Mac Allister ‘very intelligent’.
It appears City have set their sights on a particularly promising target and this rumour they’re currently favourites comes as a promising one.
From France: Manchester City centre-back ‘ready to leave’ this summer
Manchester City centre-back Aymeric Laporte is reportedly ‘ready to leave’ the Club during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The 28 year-old has had a very stop-start campaign up until this point for Manchester City, registering just 15 appearances across all competitions under Pep Guardiola, and contributing one assist in the process.
Knee surgery last summer meant the Spain international was absent for the opening matches of the 2022/23 season, while the World Cup break in the middle of the campaign, as well as a recent bout with illness, has seen Aymeric Laporte struggle for consistent game time.
When the former Athletic Bilbao defender has featured, he has certainly impressed, but the fine form of Nathan Ake at left-back, as well as the return of Ruben Dias and John Stones, may have seen Laporte fall down the pecking order at a crucial time of the season.
As such, a new report to have emerged this week has claimed that Aymeric Laporte may in fact seek an exit from Manchester City during the upcoming summer transfer window, largely in search of more frequent game time.
That is according to the information of French outlet FootMercato, who report that Aymeric Laporte is now ‘ready to leave’ Manchester City, having become a ‘luxury substitute’ for Pep Guardiola this season.
The report, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, also recalls that the Spain international’s name had been on the sights of Barcelona, when the Catalan club were looking for a replacement for Gerard Pique.
From the side of Manchester City, it appears that the Premier League champions will not be standing in Laporte’s way should he decide to seek and exit, with a replacement already identified: RB Leipzig and Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol.
While City are claimed to have failed in an attempt to sign the 21 year-old during the most recent January transfer window, FootMercato report that the impressive centre-back is a ‘priority’ for transfer officials at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Aymeric Laporte joined City in January 2018, after the club activated his release clause from Athletic Bilbao. After quickly establishing himself as a key player in the team’s defence, the defender played a crucial role in their successful Premier League title defence in the 2018/19.
Source: footballtransfertavern.com; cityxtra.co.uk
