Manchester City is planning to add a new reinforcement in midfield as Ilkay Gundogan is linked with a departure from Etihad this summer, while the unwanted Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain is on the Premier League champions’ list.
The Italian has been with the Paris giants for over 11 years, but the club’s somewhat turbulent season has seen the player face harsh criticism.
Verratti was one of the players targeted by fan protests earlier this month, along with Neymar and Lionel Messi, when the Paris Ultras Collective organized a fan gathering to express their concerns outside the club’s headquarters in Boulogne.
The club is said to be open to selling the player in the upcoming transfer window, and according to Le Parisien, City is one of the interested clubs looking to make a move for Verratti.
Pep Guardiola is reportedly preparing a shortlist of players that the Premier League champions want to buy during the summer, with midfield being a particular priority for the team.
Verratti is considered overpaid and overweight by PSG.
Captain Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are said to be leaving Manchester, and Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Bergiristain have drawn up a list of targets to replace the duo in midfield, including Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich.
Verratti has had a disappointing season in France, with just one assist and no goals in his 38 appearances for the Paris giants.