Man City transfer news: Four depart in Deadline Day cull

Man City transfer news: Guardiola wants Arsenal man Bellerin

31 March

There's a new name on Pep Guardiola's summer shopping list and worryingly for Arsenal fans it's that of the Gunners' right-back Hector Bellerin.

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The 21-year-old was linked to Barcelona earlier in the month but according to Metro it's Manchester City who are now lining up a big-money offer for the Spanish defender.

Apparently Guardiola "is a big fan of the talented youngster" and sees him as the youthful alternative to both Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta. Talksport, which got the story from Spanish rag El Confidencial, says Barcelona haven't given up hope of landing Bellerin and it may come down to who tables the biggest offer in June.

And it's another Spanish paper, Sport, which claims that City are also circling Paul Pogba. In reporting the story, Goal.com claims that the Juventus playmaker "is a priority" for Guardiola and consequently City are "prepared to smash their transfer record" in order to bring the France international to the Etihad.

And what is that record? According to Goal.com, the Sky Blues will offer Juventus €95m for Pogba, while they are also ready to offer Pogba "a contract worth €20m per season".

Man City transfer news: Axel Witsel to replace Yaya Toure?

30 March

City are involved in a "four-way race" for Zenit St Petersburg's Belgian midfielder Axel Witsel, reports Talksport. And if the Citizens are to the win the race for the playmaker they'll have to see off competition from Bayern Munich, Roma and Juventus, as well as meeting the Russian club's asking price, expected to be in the region of £30m.

Talksport, citing Italian paper Gazzetta dello Sport, says City and their three rivals "have all contacted Zenit to see if a deal can be struck this summer".

Witsel could be tempted by the chance to work with Pep Guardiola and take over from Yaya Toure in the City midfield. The Sun claims the Ivorian midfielder "is getting ready to quit" the Etihad this summer - just as he does every year. But this time, he might be serious. Apparently he's authorised his agent, Dimitri Seluk, to begin talks with interested parties and among those eyeing him up are Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are coming round to the idea of releasing goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen - but only on loan. The news that the European champions are seriously considering allowing the German goalkeeper to leave the Camp Nou in the summer will cheer both City and Liverpool, both of whom have been linked to the 23-year-old shotstopper.

Mundo Deportivo broke the news of Barca's change of heart, although the paper emphasises that the club still sees Ter Stegen as the eventual successor to Claudio Bravo. According to Talksport, City are in search of a quality keeper to put more pressure on Joe Hart, but the presence of Hart at the Etihad could priompt Ter Stegen to choose Liverpool, where he's more likely to see regular action.

Man City transfer news: Juventus talk tough over Paul Pogba

24 March

Juventus have issued a defiant message to Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona over the future of their midfield general Paul Pogba.

The trio of European powerhouses have been tracking the France star for months and at least one - believed to be the Sky Blues - is said to be preparing an eye-watering offer for the 23-year-old in the summer.

But when asked about the possibility of Pogba leaving Turin, Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta was in no mood to discuss an exit. "Pogba is a Juventus player and still has an ongoing contract with us," he said. "Plus he has also told us about his intention to stay with us. All the conditions are there for him to continue with Juventus for the upcoming years."

Pogba has scored eight times for the Italian champions this season, but despite Marotta's bullish comments, he nonetheless admitted he couldn't say for certain that the young Frenchman would remain loyal. "It is not a foregone conclusion yet that he will stay at Juventus," he said. "Nothing is ever guaranteed in football, but it is highly likely that he will stay put."

Man City transfer news: Guardiola caught in Ousmane Dembele fight

23 March

The Sky Blues face enemies on two fronts as they battle to sign Rennes midfielder Ousmane Dembele. The 18-year-old playmaker is enjoying a breakthrough season in Ligue 1 and City have had the teenager scouted on several occasions ahead of a rumoured summer swoop.

But according to Talksport Bayern Munich are poised to beat City to his signature with the German champions already in negotiations with Rennes over what is believed to be a £25m deal.

Talksport claims Bayern boss Pep Guardiola made an approach for Dembele in January but was knocked back. Because Guardiola is joining City in June, Bayern are "eager to force through a deal as soon as possible to prevent the Spaniard from hijacking the move".

But The Sun says Manchester United are also eyeing up Dembele and according to the paper the France youth international prefers the Red Devil to anyone else. How does the Sun know this? Because in an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe, the teenager revealed that he likes to "take Manchester United" when he is on PlayStation with friends.

The paper is convinced that the fact he likes to be United when he plays video games can mean only one thing - he's destined for Old Trafford.

Talking of outlandish claims, the Daily Mirror reprises a familiar tale involving Lionel Messi and claims that if he ever leaves Barcelona then the Etihad would be his "first choice". But has the Barcelona striker any intention of quitting the Camp Nou? No, says the Mirror, explaining that the Argentine goal machine "has no immediate plans to leave", although The Guardian says that City "continue to monitor Messi's situation should he become unsettled".

Man City transfer news: Guardiola hopes to lure Lewandowski

21 March

The latest player to be linked to Pep Guardiola's Sky Blues revolution is Robert Lewandowski. According to the Daily Express, the Polish frontman "is is being targeted" by the incoming City manager as he starts to plan what, judging by Sunday's home defeat to Manchester United, will be a major rebuilding task.

Bayern have become increasingly concerned in recent weeks that Guardiola will take several of the club's stars with him when he heads to City in the summer, and according to the Express the English club "are unlikely to flinch at the prospect of splashing out £60m to try to lure Lewandowski".

Guardiola dreams of pairing him with Sergio Aguero and will allegedly look to talk the prolific Pole into the move, although there is now a very real possibility that he will not be able to offer the striker Champions League football.

Meanwhile the Manchester Evening News claims that Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels is another big German name in City's sights. With Vincent Kompany a fading force because of injury, the MEN claims that Guardiola has singled out Hummels as the man to replace the big Belgian in the Sky Blues back four.