Having already lost three full-backs this summer, Pep Guardiola could be on the verge of letting a fourth leave Manchester City.
Replacing Bacary Saga and Pablo Zabaleta with Kyle Walker and (most likely) Real Madrid’s Danilo, the Spaniard is yet to find a substitute for Gael Clichy, despite a strong interest in Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy.
Yet, if Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday are to be believed, Manchester City could also see Aleksandar Kolarov exit the club this summer, as Roma are getting very close to signing the Serbian defender.
The Italian newspaper explain the Citizens could end up pocketing €6m for the 31-year-old, with the left-back signing a three-year contract with the Serie A side.
Despite negotiations between everyone being well under way, with just a few details missing, Gazzetta feel the delay in wrapping the whole thing up is intentional.
While Monchi, the Serie A side’s director of football, would be happy with the signing of Kolarov, the Spaniard would prefer a younger player if possible: Torino’s Antonio Barreca.
Joe Hart’s former side are currently asking for €18m, which hasn’t been met yet, only receiving an offer of €12m + €2m from Roma as of yet.
Considering the two sides haven’t made any contact in the past 48 hours, the Kolarov route seems the likeliest for now.
Unless Torino cave in in the next few hours, Gazzetta seem confident the Serbian defender will leave the Etihad.