Manchester City ‘will listen to offers’ for defender Yan Couto this summer and don’t intend to add him to Pep Guardiola’s squad next season.
That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who report that Manchester City have decided to sell the Brazilian rather than bring him back to the Etihad.
Couto has been on loan with Girona from Manchester City since July 2022, but this year has been the real breakthrough one for him as the Spanish side have surprised everyone and qualified for the Champions League.
He’s been a key player in that success, with two goals and ten assists in 38 games in all competitions an impressive tally.
That’s naturally earned him recognition and a focus on what comes next, with his loan deal from Manchester City expiring this summer.
There had been talk that they would look to bring him back for next season, but Estadio Deportivo insist that is not the case.
According to them, Manchester City have made it clear that Couto is not a part of their plans as they already have Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis and John Stones who can play at right-back.
Thus, they will ‘listen to offers’ for the full-back and are hoping to make at least €40m from a sale, with Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus already expressing an interest.
If that is not possible, or a ‘financially reasonable’ offer is not made, then the City Group plan to permanently move him to Girona. This is something Couto would be open to after spending the last few years, and a previous loan spell, at the club.
What sort of value that deal would hold isn’t mentioned, but we’re sure Manchester City would make certain that it’s beneficial to them.
For now, the focus is on finding an alternative suitor for Couto, who is not a part of their plans but seemingly viewed as someone who can bring in a healthy transfer income this summer.
