Manchester City are in closing in on a deal for Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, and plan to follow that up with the capture of defensive midfielder, Rodri, from Atlético Madrid in moves that could total around £107 million.City are on the verge of becoming the first club for a decade to retain the Premier League title following Monday’s nail-biting 1-0 win over Leicester but the champions are wasting no time laying the groundwork for next season as they bid to cement their dominance.
Manchester United have also been chasing Fernandes but City are in advanced talks with Sporting and are the favourites to sign the 24-year-old, who has scored 19 goals and claimed 13 assists in the Primeira Liga this season.
Fernandes is likely to cost around ?55 million (£47 million) although Sporting are also expected to get one or two players, either on loan or permanently, as part of any package. They hope to take City’s Brazil Under-20 midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has been on loan at Spanish club Girona for the past two seasons.
United have been actively pursuing Fernandes and were able to offer him a guarantee of regular first team football, whereas the Portugal international may face a bigger fight to hold down a place with City, but it is thought the player’s preference is to play under Pep Guardiola.
The potential arrival of Fernandes may increase the chances of Ilkay Gundogan leaving City this summer. The Germany midfielder is out of contract at the end of next season and has so far refused to sign a new deal, raising the prospect of City cashing in on the 28-year-old rather than losing him for nothing this time next year.
With Fernandinho having turned 34 last week and the Brazilian succumbing to more injury problems this term,
City have made the recruitment of a defensive midfielder a priority and they are prepared to meet the ?70 million (£60 million) release clause in Rodri’s contract with Atlético. The Spain international, 22, has been likened to a young Sergio Busquets at Barcelona and, along with Fernandes, would leave Guardiola with an embarrassment of riches in midfield.With the potential threat of a transfer ban from Fifa hanging over City and a desire to build on the success of the past seasons and strengthen in key areas, it is expected to be a busy close season for the champions after a quiet previous summer, when Riyad Mahrez was the only recruit.
As well as Fernandes and Rodri, City want a centre-half and a forward. A left-back has also been on the agenda. Joao Felix, the talented teenage Benfica forward who has attracted interest from an array of clubs, including United, has been scouted extensively but City are reluctant to meet the 19-year-old’s ?120 million (£102.5 million) release clause.Nicolas Otamendi, the Argentina central defender, and England midfielder Fabian Delph are likely to leave this summer. Inter Milan are interested in signing Danilo but Guardiola is thought to be wary about letting the Brazilian leave given his versatility and the shortage of quality cover across both full back positions.Guardiola has said he will sit down with Vincent Kompany at the end of the season to discuss the captain’s future. The Belgium defender – whose stunning 30 yard strike sunk Leicester and opened the door to another title win – is due to become a free agent at the end of next month
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/05/07/manchester-city-poised-strengthen-squad-midfielders-bruno-fernandes/
