Manchester City are now showing interest in an “unbelievable” Premier League player, who has a release clause of £50m, and there is a growing belief he would be open to the move, according to a report.
Man City planning defensive rebuild
It would be fair to say Man City have fallen way short of their lofty standards this season, and while Pep Guardiola moved swiftly to rectify his side’s issues in January, spending £181m on five new players, the manager is still keen to make more additions this summer.
Guardiola is particularly keen to strengthen at the back, having identified the need to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Ederson, with the likes of Espanyol’s Joan Garcia and FC Porto’s Diogo Costa being linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium.
A replacement may be needed for Kyle Walker, with the 34-year-old right-back being shipped out on loan to AC Milan last month, while Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso is being eyed on the opposite side of the defence.
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Pep Guardiola may be forced into the market for a replacement.
The Sky Blues brought in Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis to bolster their centre-back options last month, although both players are still very young, with the former enduring some shaky performances since completing a move to England.
As such, Guardiola may be keen to bring in a proven Premier League centre-back this summer, and a report from GiveMeSport has revealed Man City are now showing an interest in AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen.
At 19-years-old, Huijsen is also very young, but he has caught the eye with some impressive performances for the Cherries this season, with Liverpool and Chelsea also interested.
The defender has a £50m release clause in his Bournemouth contract, which means they may struggle to keep hold of him beyond the summer, and there is a growing belief he would be open to a summer move to the Etihad Stadium.
Huijsen could become a top centre-back
The Amsterdam-born defender has emerged as a key player for Bournemouth this season, making 20 appearances in the Premier League, and he has averaged a 7.27 SofaScore match rating, the second-highest in the squad.
Such is the youngster’s talent, he has been lauded as “unbelievable” by members of the media, and he ranks highly across a number of defensive metrics over the past year.
|
Average per 90 |
|
|
Interceptions |
1.90 (96th percentile) |
|
Blocks |
1.73 (89th percentile) |
|
Clearances |
5.70 (88th percentile) |
Although the Spaniard is still a teenager, his performances for Bournemouth this season indicate he could be capable of slotting straight into the Man City starting XI, and £50m is a reasonable fee, given the vast potential he possesses.
The fact Huijsen could be open to a move to the Etihad Stadium is a real bonus, and if he continues to perform at his current level between now and the end of the season, then City should definitely pursue a summer move.
