Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is on record as saying he believes there will be two more incoming players and he wants business done by July 1.
And while it looks as though the net is circling on Kalvin Phillips one report suggesting a new name is in the mix for the defensive spot that City want to fill. With Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez in the bag, Pep Guardiola could have his new quartet in place by the early part of next week if they can agree terms with selling clubs.
Here Mirror Sport rounds up all the City gossip….
HOFFENHEIM DEFENDER EMERGES AS POSSIBLE TARGET
City are reportedly lining up a move for Hoffenheim defender David Raum in case they cannot get their preferred target Marc Cucurella over the line.
A report from 90 min claims Guardiola’s side have made tentative enquiries with the Bundesliga club and are “in talks” over a potential move. The report admits the interest in Raum looks like a Plan B in case a deal for Brighton’s Marc Cucurella cannot be struck.
But Hoffenheim are also said to be keeping tabs on Manchester City’s Japanese defender Ko Itakura, who spent last season on loan with Schalke. City allegedly asked about the availability of their German left-back with the possibility of a swap deal.
SEAGULL NEARLY LANDED
On the same theme transfer expert Fabrizio Romano insists that City are now set to submit an opening proposal for Cucurella.
The journalist reported on Twitter that Guardiola still really wants the Spain international as his new left back. And he understands that “a first bid is ready to proceed in advanced talks in the next few days”.
PHILLIPS READY TO PUSH LEEDS INTO DEAL
City’s other main target is a central midfielder with the club wavering over whether to make another concerted push for Frenkie de Jong.
Football Insider is reporting that Kalvin Phillips is determined that he will be City’s new midfield engine and will push Leeds to agree a deal over the weekend. The England international wants out of Elland Road, and Man City is his preferred destination with the promise of Champions League football at the Etihad a major draw.
Phillips, who wants to work with Guardiola, has shone in his time at Leeds, and is also an increasingly important player for Gareth Southgate’s England side
REAL ISSUE DIG AT CITY OVER HAALAND
Real Madrid President has issued a barely veiled dig at City after they beat him to the punch by signing Erling Haaland.
The Bernabeu boss questioned why Madrid would be in the market for City’s new striker when they have the best No 9 in the world already in Karim Benzema. In an interview on Spanish TV program El Chringuito, Perez said: “We have the best 9 in the world and we weren’t going to bring Haaland to have him on the bench, right?”
