It’s been a while since the name Faouzi Ghoulam made an appearance on Sport Witness, with the last coming towards the end of November when the player was described as ‘ideal’ for the likes of both Liverpool and Everton.
Considering neither have made a move for the left-back this January, someone had to be linked at some stage during the window and now Manchester City have.
Speaking to Radio CRC, relayed by Napoli Magazine, the journalist said: “Manchester City and Guardiola have had contact with Ghoulam’s entourage. It seems the English club is very interested in the Algerian, and if so, it is a club that has a lot of money available and can buy anyone.”
Presented with a new contract at Napoli, Ghoulam is yet to extend his time with the Serie A side, and Venerato believes Manchester City’s interest is a part of that.
The Premier League side would be able to ‘offer him more’, and if that was the case, Napoli would then have to focus on searching for another full-back, with Torino’s Antonio Barreca a potential candidate.
With the likes of Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov as his options at left-back, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Guardiola was thinking of rejuvenating the position a little bit, whether it be this January or in the summer, and, at 25, Ghoulam definitely ticks that box.
The defender is currently with his national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, and is expected to play on Monday night against Senegal in a game Algeria need to win to ensure some hope of qualification from the group stages.
