Manchester City poised to make move for £30 million Premier League defender following Chelsea star’s snub

Ben Chilwell’s contract renewal at Chelsea has moved Manchester City in the direction of Brentford’s Aaron Hickey, according to a recent report.

Etihad Stadium officials are expected to seek reinforcements in the position after a number of years without a natural presence in the role, and the exit of Joao Cancelo to Bayern Munich in January.

The Portugal international is not expected to extend his career at Manchester City beyond the end of this season, despite his current agreement with the Bundesliga giants being a six-month loan deal with an option to buy at €70 million.

As such, City are expected to invest in a new left-back among a number of other positions, and after England international Ben Chilwell committed his longer-term future to Stamford Bridge, officials at the Etihad are now exploring alternative options.

Those names also come from within the Premier League, and a new report has now suggested that they could explore deals at either Brentford and Fulham across the course of the coming months.

According to the information of Alan Nixon, Manchester City are now ‘ready to swoop’ for Brentford and Scotland international full-back Aaron Hickey as part of a defensive revamp under Pep Guardiola’s guidance this summer.

It is explained that City’s manager wants “a couple of new and ‘modern’ wide defenders” as he looks to review those areas in his squad, with Hickey expected to fetch a transfer fee in the region of £30 million.

From the side of Brentford, Nixon reports that they are ‘braced for bids’ as they know Manchester City are ‘hot on the trail’ of Aaron Hickey – who would be ‘buzzing’ at the chance to play for the Premier League champions.

As for other possible targets, it is also highlighted that Manchester City remain keen on Fulham and USA left-back Antonee Robinson, but have put any such interest ‘on hold’ due to the player’s ‘big asking price’.

Manchester City still have opportunities to watch the aforementioned talents up close and personal during the closing weeks of the campaign, with Pep Guardiola’s players taking on both Fulham and Brentford in the Premier League.

City travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon, just days after taking on the current Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

As for a meeting with Aaron Hickey and Thomas Frank’s Brentford side, those two clubs go head-to-head on the final game of the season in a contest that could have a huge say on the direction of the Premier League trophy.