Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo is attracting interest from across Europe following his recent spell on the bench, it has been reported.
Cancelo was one of City's standout players last season as they won a fourth Premier League title in five years, but the versatile full-back has started just one league game since returning from World Cup duties with Portugal - the 1-0 win at Chelsea in which he was taken off at half-time.
The emergence of Rico Lewis, his replacement at Stamford Bridge that evening, has been one factor in the 28-year-old enduring an extended spell on the sidelines. Pep Guardiola has been hugely impressed by the 18-year-old who he recently described as a 'little Phillip Lahm'.
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According to the Telegraph, while Cancelo recently extended contract could keep him at the Etihad until 2027, a number of top European clubs are monitoring the situation in case he is allowed to leave in the summer. But while the elite of European football will be licking their lips at the prospect, this dynamic is not abnormal at City.
Guardiola has previously left the likes of Riyad Mahrez and John Stones out in the cold, only for them to double down their efforts to re-establish themselves.
Elsewhere, City have approached Sevilla regarding the availability of their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, according to Spanish outlet El Chiringuito.
The shot-stopper, known as 'Bono', enjoyed an outstanding World Cup between the posts for Morocco where his side became the first from Africa to reach the semi-finals, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
City's reported interest surfaced just hours after their 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Southampton, a match in which reserve goalkeeper Stefan Ortega struggled and found himself stranded for Moussa Djenepo's lofted finish.
Guardiola and his superiors are unlikely to have enquired as a result of that error, however, with those in charge at the Etihad unaccustomed to such knee-jerk reactions.
Bono's contract with Sevilla runs until 2025.
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