Manchester City are bullish in the face of a possible Champions League ban - and they’re also on the offensive in the transfer market.
According to The Guardian, City have “comprehensive proof” of their innocence over allegations that the club breached Uefa’s financial fair play regulations.
The newspaper says the Sky Blues intend to “fiercely contest” any attempts to bar them from participating in Europe’s showpiece competition.
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As for their squad next season, ESPN reports that City plan to add three or four new players this summer. The domestic transfer window opens on 16 May and closes on 8 August at 5pm.
Coming for Cancelo
The Sun reports that City “are trying to hijack” Manchester United’s attempt to lure Juventus star Joao Cancelo to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are said to have been tailing the £51m-rated right-back for six months, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans a major overhaul of his squad.
But City boss Pep Guardiola also has his eye on the 24-year-old, and reports from Italy suggest that he is ready to table an offer to Juventus.
Talks have reportedly begun with Juve about “striking a deal”, with City quietly confident about beating United to the prize.
Hunting a pair of Foxes
City are also stalking Leicester defenders Harry Maguire and Ben Chilwell, says talkSPORT.
Maguire is another player who has been linked to Old Trafford in the past, but Guardiola reportedly sees the 26-year-old England international as the ideal replacement for the ageing Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is “desperate” to keep Maguire, but is realistic enough to appreciate that if City come calling with an offer in the region of £50m, a deal is likely to be done, the site adds.
Farewell Chilwell?
England full-back Chilwell also looks set to up sticks, with talkSPORT claiming that the 22-year-old is “being eyed by Guardiola” to replace left-back Benjamin Mendy.
The Frenchman has been plagued by injury problems since arriving at the Etihad from Monaco in 2017, and City are ready to break the bank to land Chilwell.
Bearing in mind that he’s contracted to Leciester until 2024, the defender could cost the Sky Blues as much as £75m.
Bayern eye Sane
The Daily Mail reports that Bayern Munich are “pushing to sign” City winger Leroy Sane, as the German international stalls on agreeing new terms with the Premier League champions.
The Mail says that City “will take Bayern’s proposal into consideration”, because they are disappointed with the youngster’s dip in form this season.
All the same, after paying £37m when they signed Sane from Schalke in 2016, “they would want a considerable profit on the 23-year-old”, the paper adds.
