Manchester City ‘in talks’ to sign €40million-rated Portugal midfielder

Manchester City are acting quickly and efficiently in the early days of this summer’s transfer market, already capturing Bernardo Silva from Monaco and trying to close deals for Ederson Moraes, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy.

But what about the midfield? With Fernando and Fabian Delph seemingly not very highly rated by Guardiola, and both Fernandinho and Yaya Touré over the age of 30, Pep Guardiola has been looking to bring in another central midfielder.

Monaco’s Fabinho is thought to be a target, but extracting three players from the same club – assuming the Blues are successful in signing Mendy – could prove challenging, and City face competition from neighbours Manchester United and Serie A giants Juventus for the Brazilian midfielder.

Another potential target, previously linked with a switch to the Etihad, is 25-year-old Sporting midfielder William Carvalho, a Portugal international who was part of the side that won Euro 2016 last year.

And according to Portuguese journalist Gonçalo Lopes of Diário de Notícias, City are currently in talks with Sporting about a deal for William, who is represented by Pere Guardiola, brother of City manager Pep Guardiola.

William Carvalho agent is Guardiola’s brother. But, again, not a done deal to @ManCity

— Gonçalo Lopes (@_GoncaloLopes) May 28, 2017

Gonçalo stated that discussions have taken place, but at this point no deal is done. Sporting are thought to rate William at €40 million (£34.9 million) and City have also been linked with his team-mate, Gelson Martins, but the acquisition of Bernardo Silva has probably put that link to bed.