Manchester City send transfer warning to representatives of £85 million midfielder – Club open to selling

Officials at Manchester City have reportedly sent a warning to the representatives of one of their main transfer targets over the fate of their interest this summer.

The upcoming summer market is expected to be busy for Manchester City as they pursue a number of recruits across the pitch, but namely in the centre of the park amid uncertainty over existing options.

Bernardo Silva is likely to seek an exit from the Etihad Stadium for a fourth consecutive campaign, with his newly-renewed Manchester City contract now including a £50 million release clause, whilst Kevin De Bruyne is entering into his final year of an active deal.

As such, Manchester City bosses have identified a number of names they could turn to in order to strengthen their ranks, with Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta making up part of an extensive list of profiles.

However, concerns are maintained around the ability to make a move for Paqueta in the coming months due to an ongoing investigation, and those concerns have been passed on to the player’s representatives.

According to the information of TBR Football, Manchester City have indicated to Lucas Paqueta’s representatives that they will ‘have to look at other targets’ this summer if his ongoing legal issues and investigation from the Football Association are not resolved.

Paqueta is said to be ‘desperate’ to link-up with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, with the Catalan in turn wanting the West Ham man, having identified the Brazilian as one of his top targets amid uncertainty over some players in his current midfield.

From the side of West Ham, it is claimed that London Stadium bosses are open to selling Paqueta having agreed terms last summer, and there is ‘little belief’ that a release clause – understood to be worth around £85 million – would even have to be exercised.

The aforementioned Bruno Guimaraes could also be a relatively simple move to complete, should Manchester City deem it necessary to trigger his nine-figure release clause, which becomes active for a one-month period this summer.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has also confirmed the presence of a release clause in the Brazilian’s deal, with the understanding being that the clause sits at a valuation of around £100 million.

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are likely to offer stern competition for Manchester City, should Etihad Stadium bosses turn their admiration for Guimaraes into concrete interest in the coming months.