Manchester City are interested in a move for midfielder Manuel Locatelli but only next summer, his agent has confirmed.
City have been linked with the Sassuolo midfielder over the last week, with reports claiming he is being eyed as a long-term replacement or Fernandinho.
Their interest has quickly been picked up elsewhere, with it claimed that his other suitors, Juventus, have been ‘warned’ of Manchester City’s interest.
The reports have even been covered by Sassuolo director Giovanni Carnevali, who labelled the rumours as a good thing because they showed he and his club were doing something right.
Now his agent, Stefano Castelnuovo, has covered the situation too, with Calciomercato reporting him saying that “in the January transfer market Sassuolo will hardly sell the player. Manchester City are one of the teams monitoring him for the next market.”
That, at least, is a confirmation that City are keeping a close eye on the player albeit ahead of the summer rather than for any business this month.
Any deal is likely to rest on Fernandinho, as has already been stated. If he ends up staying at the Etihad, then it’s likely Manchester City will be doing their transfer dealings elsewhere.
However, should he make it clear he’s leaving in the summer, then a replacement will be needed, and Locatelli looks like being one name on the list.
