Manchester City identified Italy international midfielder as potential transfer target before move for Nico Gonzalez

Reports in Italy have claimed that Manchester City had their focus on another name within the game before eventually moving on to Porto’s Nico Gonzalez last month.

The Spaniard completed a deadline day move to the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City officials reaching an agreement with FC Porto over a €60 million transfer for the former Barcelona midfielder.

While the valuation of the deal matches the same price as the player’s release clause, it is understood that City’s agreement will see them pay out that amount in stages, as opposed to have triggered the clause and sanctioned an investment in one go.

The successful swoop on the Portuguese giants for one of their standout players of the season so far means that City have finally brought an end to a month-long search for a midfield recruit, having exhausted a number of options including names from the Italian game.

While much of the talk from Italy centred around the likes of Juventus’ Douglas Luiz on a loan deal until the end of the campaign, as well as interest in Atalanta’s Éderson, new claims point towards a different name from the Old Lady.

That is according to the information of Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, who report that Manchester City ‘sounded out’ Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli during the January transfer window.

It is claimed that the Premier League champions were keen on a move for the Italy international, viewing the player as a potential replacement for Rodri in the heart of their midfield.

As for the stance taken by Juventus, and hence why the Premier League champions moved on to other options, it is stated that the Turin club were not interested in a sale regarding the player as ‘unsellable’.

Manchester City were heavily linked with a move for Locatelli during the summer transfer window of 2021, but never pursued a deal to the stage of concrete negotiations over a switch from Sassuolo at the time.

As for their new number 14, Nico Gonzalez could have the opportunity to make his debut for Manchester City as soon as this weekend, as the club travels to Leyton Orient for FA Cup fourth round action at Brisbane Road.

Then follows the matter of a mammoth first-leg clash in the UEFA Champions League, as Real Madrid visit the Etihad Stadium for part one of a two-legged affair in the last-16 play-off round of the competition.