Man City transfer news: Inter eye double deal for David Silva and Eliaquim Mangala

Man City transfer news: Kasper Schmeichel in Joe Hart swap deal

22 May

A plot is being hatched at the Etihad and it's one that Pep Guardiola hopes will land him Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel in return for Joe Hart.

Toffees gaffer Ronald Koeman wants to reinforce a defence that has shipped more than a goal a game this season, and Schmeichel, Jordan Pickford of Sunderland and Southampton’s Fraser Forster are all on his summer shopping list.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

But, as the Times notes, goalkeeper has "proved a problem position" for Guardiola throughout his first campaign as City manager and it's believed he is seeking a replacement for Claudio Bravo, "who can retain possession and build play with the ball at his feet".

He has no intention of taking Joe Hart back now that his loan spell at Torino has ended and the England keeper will be offered to last season's Premier League champs in return for Schmeichel.

The Times says in the event City miss out on the Dane they could make a move for the young Brazilian keeper Ederson, who's impressed this season with Portuguese side Benfica, but comes with a £51.6m release clause.

If the International Business Times is to be believed then City have edged ahead of neighbours Manchester United in the quest to bag Monaco defender Fabinho.

Apparently Guardiola is set to call off the chase for Spurs right-back Kyle Walker on account of the "exorbitant fee" demanded for the England international. His attention is now riveted on Fabinho, the 23-year-old Brazilian who can play at both right-back and in the centre of midfield.

Jose Mourinho was at one stage in hot pursuit of the South American but according to the latest reports emanating from Old Trafford he is now more interested in landing Chelsea's Nemanja Matic.

Finally, The Sun is one of many papers to report the words of Guardiola when asked after Sunday's thrashing of Watford if veteran defender Vincent Kompany and Argentine frontman Sergio Aguero will still be part of the furniture at the Etihad come August. "Sergio and Kompany are players for Manchester City and will be at Manchester City next season," responded the Spaniard. The pair have both been linked with summer transfers, particularly the South American, but a clearly irate Guardiola gave reporters short shrift when they tried to suggest Aguero wanted out. "OK guys, he will be here next season," snapped the City boss. "Happy? Good. Perfect."

Man City transfer news: Spurs demand £40m for Kyle Walker

18 May

Tottenham have decided that if Kyle Walker wants to live up to his name and quit the Lilywhites this summer, they will squeeze every last penny out of him.

The Daily Mail claims that Chelsea and Manchester City are both interested in the 26-year-old England defender and club chairman Daniel Levy is ready to up his initial asking price of £40m.

Earlier in the season Levy had pooh-poohed the idea of selling the right-back to a rival but now, having recognised that the Sky Blues and the Premier League champions are both desperate to get their hands on Walker, he's decided to cash in.

The Mail says that "a potential tug-of-war between Chelsea and City will only drive the price up", particularly as Walker is contracted to Spurs until 2021.

With the blocker currently pocketing a modest £70,000-a-week, it's likely that he will soon be banking a six figure sum with City believed to be in pole position as Pep Guardiola looks to overhaul his ageing defence in the summer.

Man City transfer news: Will Yaya Toure get a new contract?

16 May

As the season comes to an end, it's that time of year when Yaya Toure celebrates his birthday (he turned 34 at the weekend) and the rumours about his future begin in earnest.

And while Manchester City's European fate remains unclear so does Toure's status at the Etihad. The Sky Blues host West Brom tonight in a must-win match in the hunt for Champions League football but off the field Sky Sports reports that Toure's agent is unsure of whether the club want the Ivorian international to sign a new deal.

Toure's City contract runs out in six weeks and there have been mixed messages in recent weeks, with some sources saying his form in the second half of the season has convinced Pep Guardiola to offer the veteran playmaker an extension.

Asked by Sky Sports about the future of his client, agent Dimitri Seluk said: "We have not heard anything. I read a lot of stories about a new City contract but I know nothing about this. The last time I spoke to anyone at City was in Monaco in March."

But even if a new deal doesn't come through, says Seluk, Toure isn't sort of suitors: "We have many possibilities," he said. "Yaya already has offers from different clubs. They are very interesting offers. There are clubs who have already qualified for next season's Champions League, but for Yaya... he would find it difficult to leave City."

Man City transfer news: Donnarumma to replace Claudio Bravo

15 May

If The Sun is to be believed Gianluigi Donnarumma is moving to England and Manchester is his most likely destination.

The 18-year-old gloveman, described by the paper as an "AC Milan whizkid" is regarded as one of the most talented shotstoppers in the business and both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have had Donnarumma checked out in recent months, their appetite whetted by the claim that he could cost as little as £20m.

The Sun is now claiming that the keeper "has told pals he is set for transfer to England" with AC Milan ready to sell now rather than let him leave on a free when his contract expires in 12 months. It's believed that Guardiola wants to bring Donnarumma to the Etihad to replace Claudio Bravo, and the Sun says that the City gaffer is "willing to offer £70,000-a-week wages to bring him to the Etihad".

One Sky Blue heading in the other direction is Pablo Zabaleta, reports Talksport, with the broadcaster reporting that the veteran defender is on his way out and probably heading to West Ham.

As demonstrated in Sunday's 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool, the Hammers need some bolstering in their back four and apparently the 32-year-old Argentinian, who joined City from Espanyol in 2008, will head to the capital next month.

That Zabaleta is leaving the Etihad was confirmed by the club in an official communique, which said: "Pablo has informed the club he will move to pastures new, but leave behind many happy memories. Fans will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for one of the club's most loyal and loved servants of recent times against West Brom on Tuesday evening, which will be Pablo's last home appearance."

Man City transfer news: Zabaleta and Yaya Toure to West Ham?

11 May

Rumours of a summer clearout at the Etihad are becoming a reality with two veterans edging towards the exit.

According to The Sun, West Ham have "offered Pablo Zabaleta the chance to make a new start away from Manchester City" with the paper claiming that the Hammers are offering the 32-year-old full-back a two-year deal worth £100,000-a-week. That's not a bad pay packet for Zabaleta, who has been a Sky Blue since 2008, but Hammers boss Slaven Bilic believes the experienced blocker still has a lot to offer the Premier League.

Meanwhile the Daily Mirror says that Yaya Toure is "facing an emotional farewell to Manchester City" next Tuesday when the Citizens host West Brom in their last home game of the season.

The Ivory Coast international, who turns 34 on Saturday, has not been offered a new deal by City and the Mirror says it looks like he will be shown the Etihad door.

Apparently Toure "has made it clear he wants to stay in the Premier League" but City boss Pep Guardiola doesn't appear to be interested in extending his stay at the club.

The Mirror says West Ham, who seem to be developing a taste for all things Sky Blues, are monitoring the veteran midfielder's situation, as are the "newly-promoted Championship pair Newcastle and Brighton".