Manchester City face Liverpool and Chelsea battle for €60 million-rated Belgium forward

Some of Europe’s biggest clubs are lining up to go head-to-head over the summer signing of one of Belgium’s most exciting attacking prospects, according to reports.

It is the latest name to be linked with a move to Manchester City this summer, as the Etihad Stadium club appear to line themselves up for a busy market of activity both in the way of incomings and outgoings from Pep Guardiola’s squad.

While attacking and defensive midfield roles are likely to be addressed by recruitment-focussed officials at the club, other positions will have lists of potential recruits attached to them in the event of market opportunities.

As such, and despite the arrival of Jeremy Doku from Stade Rennais last summer, Manchester City have now been linked with an interest in another of Belgium’s rising attacking talents, alongside a number of high-ranking European clubs.

That is according to the information of Sky Sports’ Patrick Berger, who reports that PSV Eindhoven and Belgium international forward Johan Bakayoko is a ‘summer top target’ for some of Europe’s premier clubs, including Manchester City.

The Premier League champions are named alongside English top-flight rivals Liverpool and Chelsea in monitoring the 20-year-old’s situation, while Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are also listed by the report.

However, Bakayoko remains contracted in Eindhoven until 2027, and has no release clause in his current deal. Berger highlights that while Brentford saw a €40 million bid rejected during the recent winter market, the player is set to command a fee between €50 million and €60 million.

Manchester City have already secured the services of one new attacking talent ahead of the reopening of the summer market, with City Football Group’s Savio having been acquired by the Premier League champions.

Having first made the move to European football by joining ESTAC Troyes in France, Savio went on to excel during a loan move to Girona in La Liga, before Etihad bosses moved swiftly to ensure that they would be in control of the player’s highly-sought after future.

The teenage forward is likely to be assessed during City’s pre-season tour of the USA this summer, before a decision is made by Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff whether a future in the first-team squad for the 2024/25 campaign is more beneficial than another loan move.