Manchester City round-up: Arsenal considering £15million move; defender snub; 15-year-old to join academy

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The Daily Mail has reported this morning that out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart could be a summer target for Premier League rivals Arsenal once his loan spell at Torino ends.

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After falling out with manager Pep Guardiola over the summer, the England shot-stopper was sent out on loan to Italian side Torino until the end of the season – and he’s helped lift his new side to the top half of Serie A.

The Daily Mail believes that Arsene Wenger is interested in the 29-year-old as he looks for a long-term replacement for current goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is 34-years-old.

The report alleges that Manchester City will be wanting an offer in excess of the £15 million mark if they are to be swayed into selling Hart to rivals, and it’s believed Wenger could meet this demand.

Hart has managed five clean sheets in 21 Serie A appearances this season for Torino.

Reports in The Sun are alleging that Southampton defender, and Manchester City target, Virgil van Dijk is set to snub a move to the Etihad Stadium as he seeks to commit his future to the Saints.

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It has been highly expected that the Dutch centre-back would leave St Mary’s over the upcoming summer in a deal worth around £50 million – with Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool all interested – but reports suggest he’s set to make a U-turn on a potential move away.

Speaking to The Sun, an unnamed source close to the club said:

“When Virgil took the captaincy it was on the understanding he would lead the team until the end of next season as a minimum.

“He has a long-term contract and is settled at the club.”

The 25-year-old was given the captain’s armband after fellow centre-back Jose Fonte left the club for a move to Premier League rivals West Ham last month.

Van Dijk signed a six-year deal at St Mary’s last year, and it seems increasingly so that Southampton are confident the defender won’t be leaving the club come the end of the season.

Despite potentially missing out on one target, Manchester City have managed to reach an agreement with 15-year-old talent Richard Dionkou ahead of a summer move from Mallorca.

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The teenager is an up-and-coming right-back that has impressed at the Spanish side’s academy, and The Sun reports that City beat off competition from Real Madrid and Barcelona to sign Dionkou.

FIFA guidelines mean that the move won’t be able to be completed until Dionkou turns 16-years-old over the summer, but the move shows City’s intent on bringing in young talent to their own academy system.

A fee hasn’t been released yet ahead of the move for the Senegalese youngster.

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