Manchester City round-up: £43million Monaco midfielder signed; four released; West Ham swoop for defender

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester City announced their first signing of the summer on Friday afternoon as BBC Sport reported that Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva is on the verge of a £43 million deal.

Silva, who made scored eight times in 37 appearances for Monaco as they won the Ligue One title this season, will reportedly join up with the squad at the Etihad when the window opens on July 1.

The 22-year-old will be City manager Pep Guardiola’s first addition of what is expected to be a busy summer, with the Spaniard given around £200 million of funds by the owners to invest in his squad.

Attacking midfielder Silva made 58 appearances across all competitions this year, playing an integral part of a successful Monaco side, and played in both legs as they beat City in the Champions League.

It proved to be an equally busy day for Manchester City yesterday as it was announced that four first-team players were released as part of Pep Guardiola’s summer clear-out at the Etihad Stadium.

Willy Caballero, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Jesus Navas are all set to leave City this summer after not being offered new deals by the Spaniard, paving the way for new additions during the window.

It was believed that Caballero could be offered a contract extension after impressing in the run-in to the season – particularly with City’s current goalkeeping woes – but his three-year spell will end.

Both Clichy and Sagna – 31-years-old and 34-years-old respectively – have struggled to stamp a claim for a regular spot in defence and, at over 30, neither fit into Guardiola’s plans of a youthful defence.

This quartet now join Pablo Zabaleta through the exit door of the Etihad after the 32-year-old announced a fortnight ago that he would be leaving the club at the end of the current campaign.

According to reports in The Sun, the veteran Argentine right-back has moved quickly to agree terms with Premier League side West Ham ahead of a move to London for next season.

It is believed that the Hammers’ boss Slaven Bilic has moved fast to snap up the services of the experienced defender on a free transfer in hope that he can lift spirits around the London Stadium.

West Ham endured a disappointing season in the Premier League, starting strongly but eventually fading to finish in the bottom half of the table in the first campaign spent at their new ground.

Zabaleta made over 300 appearances for Manchester City during his nine-year tenure at the Etihad, but was left with little choice but to move on after being told he would not be offered a new deal.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by CS2 Kaisar Judi.