Manchester City are interested in signing a £34 million defender who is adored by Pep Guardiola, according to a new report.
The Blues were perhaps lot quieter than anyone thought in the summer transfer window, as the champions brought in just two new players. However, the lack of transfer activity hasn’t stopped Manchester City from having a solid start to the Premier League season once again, as they have already sealed up one deal until 2025.
The 17-year-old defender, who came through the academy at MLS side New York City, is rumored to be joining the Blue side of Manchester in 2025, after an agreement was reached. Given the fact that McFarlane is already a part of the City Football Group, it has made a deal more simple forward to complete, and that has allowed them to beat the likes of Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Atlético Madrid to the signature.
Meanwhile, as well as wanting to sign McFarlane, Man City are also looking to tie Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri to new contracts, as they look to get two of their greatest players to commit their future to the club.
The Blues already have a number of options in central defence, as they can draw upon the likes of John Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol. But Guardiola is a major fan of Diomande, and that is reported to be tilting the scales in City’s favour.
The Ivory Coast international has been with the Portuguese side since January 2023, and he has so far played 60 times for the club in all competitions, scoring four goals along the road. Sporting would ideally like to maintain hold of the defender, but this report indicates they would be demanding for around €40 million, which is around £34 million.
| Diomande’s Sporting Lisbon stats | |
|---|---|
| Apps | 60 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Stats as per Transfermarkt | |
Guardiola’s desire to sign the player will tip the balance in Manchester City’s favour when it comes to signing Diomande, who was once described as being “immense” by U23 scout Antonio Mango.
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