Manchester City round-up: Mbappe rumours dispelled; Arsenal lead transfer race; Guardiola defends summer spending

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester City are not believed to be lining-up a world-record bid for Monaco teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe this summer – contrary to reports doing the rounds – a source close to talkSPORT has claimed.

The Daily Mail had claimed earlier this morning that the Citizens were considering hijacking Real Madrid’s proposed move for the Frenchman, refusing to back down from their chase.

But the radio station’s correspondent for Manchester, Dominic McGuinness, has insisted there is little truth behind the speculation that Pep Guardiola is considering submitting a large offer for him.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, he said: “The word from City this morning is that the story is just a bargaining tool to raise the transfer fee.

“City believe he is off to Real Madrid and any late speculation is just to maximise the price.”

Reports from Spanish news outlet Marca had sensationally revealed yesterday that the current Champions League holders had reached a €180million (£161million) agreement for the 18-year-old.

In other news, The Sun have revealed that Premier League rivals Arsenal are closing in on signing Manchester City youngster Jadon Sancho after seeing off competition from a host of other elite teams.

The 17-year-old wonder-kid has made a name for himself in recent years after impressing as part of the Etihad academy but reports claim that talks of a new three-year, £30,000-a-week deal have stalled.

And being left out of Guardiola’s squad for the pre-season tour of the United States seems to have been the final nail in the coffin for Sancho, who believes it would be an easier route into the Arsenal squad.

An unnamed source close to the Etihad said: “The club is worried Arsenal are frontrunners for Jadon as he has a soft spot for them.

“His family think he might get a quicker path to first-team action at either Arsenal or Spurs.”

Sancho, who is most comfortable when utilised as a winger, has featured on a number of occasions for England’s Under-17 side, being part of the side that lost in the recent European Championship final.

Aside from transfer speculation, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended his £200million spending spree so far this summer and blamed the state of the market for inflation.

The additions of Kyle Walker (£45million), Danilo (£26.5million), Benjamin Mendy (£52million), Bernardo Silva (£43million), Ederson Moraes (£34million) and young Douglas Luiz (£10million) have taken City’s overall summer expenditures past the £200million mark – with potential for even more.

But speaking at a press conference ahead of City’s clash with current Champions League champions Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, the Independent reports that the Spaniard said:

“I would like to pay less for the club, for everybody,  but the market is the market.

“Manchester City did not invest in full-backs in the last six or seven years and all four had 31 or 32-years-old. We decided we had to make the squad younger and try to get the best full-backs possible.”

Veteran full-backs Aleksander Kolarov, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabeleta have all found themselves going through the Etihad exit door this year as Guardiola looks to re-enforce his defence.