Man City transfer news: Ruben Neves, Julian Weigl, John Stones

Ruben on the radar

Pep Guardiola is not a man to rest on his laurels. According to The Sun, the City gaffer already has his eye on players he believes can strengthen his squad in the second half of the season.

The paper claims that Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves is one of those men and he has caught the eye of Guardiola. Dubbed the ‘Portuguese Andrea Pirlo’, the playmaker, who is only 21, is a “£60m January target” for Manchester City after his barnstorming performances in the Championship.

Although he’s still adjusting to life in the Premier League, Neves has bags of potential and the Sun says that Guardiola will run the rule over him close up this weekend when City travel to Wolves. The Spaniard is after someone who can do the holding job in the City midfield and Neves could be that man. Represented by agent Jorge Mendes, who counts City players Bernardo Silva and Ederson among his clients, the Portuguese ace is highly regarded by Wolves. The Sun says that the Midlands outfit will try and squeeze every penny they can from the Sky Blues.

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Dortmund demand £68m

Another midfielder on Guardiola’s wishlist is Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Weigl, says the Daily Mirror, which adds that the English champions will face stiff competition from their French counterparts, Paris Saint-Germain.

Thomas Tuchel, now in charge of PSG, coached Weigl at Dortmund and the Mirror – citing France Football as its source – says he would like a reunion at the Parc des Princes. With the German club having signed Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney this summer, they might be ready to sell but they’ve slapped a £68m price tag on his head. Apparently Guardiola is also a fan of the 22-year-old, particularly since he lost out to Chelsea in the tussle to sign Jorginho. A move could be made in the new year.

Stones set for new deal

England defender John Stones is on the brink of becoming one of Man City’s top earners with a new £170,000-a-week deal designed to secure his long-term future at the club.

“Stones’s current contract is worth £120,000-a-week and it does not run out until the summer of 2022,” reports the Daily Mail. But the club have offered him improved terms as they look to “maintain their dominance” over English football for years to come.