Manchester City hold interest in Real Madrid defender ahead of summer transfer swoop

Premier League champions Manchester City are claimed to be holding a transfer interest in Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy, according to reports.

The latest transfer rumour concerning the Etihad Stadium club comes after a succession of reports linking Manchester City with a variety of names operating in central and attacking midfield positions.

While Etihad bosses are likely to prioritise creative midfield stars in the coming summer transfer window, especially amid continued uncertainty over the future of Bernardo Silva in particular, they will not be opposed to other market opportunities.

The defensive roles could be addressed in the coming months, especially as Manchester City will be coming off the back of a season that has seen the back-four ship more goals than their Treble-winning season and some frailties emerging in the rearguard.

As such, the left-back role could be addressed, despite Pep Guardiola seemingly being content with the performances of Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake throughout the duration of the ongoing season.

Now, according to the information of L’Équipe, and translated and relayed by Get French Football News, Manchester City are among ‘many’ of the Premier League’s ‘top’ sides ‘exploring a move’ for Real Madrid and France full-back Ferland Mendy this summer. 

With the 28-year-old nearing the end of his current deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, approaching the final year of contract, Arsenal and Liverpool are among clubs reportedly interested and have ‘made contact’ with Mendy’s entourage on the topic of a summer move.

Whilst Manchester City are also said to be ‘considering a move’ for the Frenchman, Manchester United and Newcastle United are also ‘pushing’ in their interest, despite the player said to be against the idea of a move to St James’ Park.

Manchester City’s last natural left-back signing came in the summer of 2017, with the club capitalising on the hype around AS Monaco’s breakthrough squad and recruiting French international Benjamin Mendy.

Sergio Gomez was then seen as an option in the left-back positions when he made the switch from Vincent Kompany’s former squad at Anderlecht, however the former Spanish under-21 international has struggled to establish himself as a mainstay option in the first-team squad.

Whether or not Manchester City decide to intensify their interest in recruiting at left-back this summer remains to be seen, however given the level of preparation that goes into squad decisions at the City Football Academy, they will no doubt have options on the table.