Manchester City look to have power over Napoli on two summer transfers

 

Manchester City could be an irritant to Napoli over the summer transfer window, with the choices of Pep Guardiola threatening to define their approach to the window. In need of a big fullback refresh, Manchester City have been linked to several options.

Earlier in the season Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo was repeatedly linked to Manchester City, with a winter transfer being talked up. Benfica were keen to raise money during the January window so Grimaldo would have been an achievable target.

And whilst claims of Manchester City interest were typically overstated (with Pep Guardiola’s secret trip to Lisbon not actually happening), the club’s interest in 21 year old Grimaldo made sense. The left back was schooled the Barcelona way and would likely look kindly upon playing under Guardiola.

That was all scuppered by injury, and Grimaldo has been out for four months recovering from abdominal surgery. The Spaniard is back training, but not quite managing full training yet.

Also interested in Grimaldo are Napoli, because they’re worried their own leftback could be leaving. Faouzi Ghoulam’s contract expires in June 2018 and a renewal isn’t proving easy to come by. One of the clubs who would be interested in signing Ghoulam is Manchester City.

This is all covered by Portuguese newspaper O Jogo on Sunday, and it seems Napoli will have to wait for Manchester City to make their mind up. If Guardiola decides Grimaldo is the man he wants then Napoli don’t stand a great chance, and if Manchester City instead go for 26 year old Ghoulam, then Napoli are hardly likely to get a renewal.