Manchester City round-up: £50m bid for forward imminent; Juventus defender praises boss; Guardiola promises better

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According to fresh reports in the Mirror this morning, Manchester City are allegedly growing more confident by the day that they can secure the signing of Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez this summer.

It is believed that the Citizens are poised to submit an official offer for the 28-year-old Chilean over the upcoming weeks – worth up to a potential £50 million – and are convinced they can seal the deal.

Despite Arsene Wenger claiming that he has no intention of selling Sanchez this summer it is believed that the lure of Champions League football, plus £300,000-a-week, will tempt him to City.

Sanchez is currently on international duty with Chile at the Confederations Cup, where he scored in their draw with 2014 World Cup winners Germany on Thursday, and will return in the next fortnight.

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The Arsenal man starred in a disappointing season for the Gunners, scoring 24 times as well as assisting 10 more as he single-handedly kept his side in with an outside chance of a top-four finish.

Meanwhile, Dani Alves has fuelled the fire over a potential move to Manchester City after commenting on his ‘admiration’ for Pep Guardiola.

BBC Sport reported on Thursday evening that the 34-year-old right-back is set to be released from the final year of his contract at Italian side Juventus – just days after reporting Guardiola’s interest in Alves.

Alves helped Juventus win the Serie A title for sixth-consecutive season and spear-headed their charge to the Champions League final, eventually losing out to back-to-back winners Real Madrid.

Speaking whilst back in native Brazil, The Sun reports that Alves said:

“If I go, it’ll be without any conflicts, without any problems, as opposed to what’s being said.

“City my next team? Well, everyone knows my admiration for Pep Guardiola.”

Alves spent four years under the wing of Guardiola during their spell together at Barcelona, winning three La Liga’s and two Champions League titles, and a reunion is certainly on the cards.

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Aside from transfer speculation, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed that his side will become a force to be reckoned with next season after an underwhelming debut season in England.

The Citizens fell short of the Premier League title, lost in the FA Cup semi-finals and crashed out in the Champions League quarter-finals as the Spaniard went trophy-less for the first time in his career.

But the experienced manager has hit back at critics for his first season in the top-flight and promised that next season will be better – with City aiming high in all four competitions.

Speaking yesterday, The Sun reports that he said:

“We will be better next season.

“During eleven months together it is a process, you can enjoy it, new games, new actions – the opponents always play well.

“The beautiful thing is the process. I was so happy last season in Manchester being there, it’s why I can’t wait for July to start again.”

The former Barcelona manager has wasted no time in delving into his pockets for the upcoming transfer market, already acquiring the services of goalkeeper Ederson Moraes and Bernardo Silva.

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