Manchester City are one of the clubs eyeing up a move for Barcelona youngster Nico González, with the defensive midfielder yet to sign a new deal at the Camp Nou.
That’s according to AS, who say City are ‘interested in taking over the services’ of the 19-year-old should he leave the Catalan club this summer.
The newspaper cites La Voz de Galicia, who explain that Barcelona chief Mateu Alemany has already met with González’s representatives to discuss a new deal at the club.
They explain that as González is one of the ‘most coveted’ players in their youth ranks, they are keen to keep him and have already taken the ‘first steps’ to do so.
Last Monday saw Alemany meet with the midfielder’s agent Pere Guardiola and show him the ‘enormous interest’ they have in extending his deal.
They consider González as the ‘natural heir’ to Sergio Busquets and believe he can be a future first-team star. Indeed, Ronald Koeman is a ‘staunch defender’ of the player and has made it clear he will be moved to the senior squad once he has signed a new deal.
While Barça have not sent a financial proposal as yet, the club has made it clear that they will offer him a three-year deal.
They want something sorted as soon as possible, with them aware González is ‘already causing a sensation’ in Europe.
Indeed, they say that clubs like Ajax or Eintracht Frankfurt are ‘determined’ to incorporate the youngster into their first teams next season.
There is no mention of Manchester City from La Voz but AS name them, not Eintracht, alongside Ajax as the interested parties.
That would certainly make sense, given the extensive Barcelona ties at Manchester City and their history of signing youngsters, like Eric Garcia, from the Camp Nou in the past.
There appears to have been a wire crossed somewhere here, though, so we’ll wait for something a bit more definitive and clear before stating that City are in the race for his signature.
