Pep Guardiola’s hopes of snatching Barcelona wonderkid Gavi away from his former club to take him to Manchester City appear doomed.
According to Marca, the Premier League champions and closest challengers Liverpool have been monitoring the 17-year-old midfielder’s contract stand-off with the Catalans this summer.
But the news from Spain is that talks between Barca and Gavi’s agent, Ivan de la Pena, have started to gain traction.
No agreement has been reached yet, but Gavi has indicated he wants to stay at the Nou Camp if terms can be agreed.
And that appears to be bad news for both Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
City eye double swoop
City have already addressed their need for a striker by snapping up two in the shape of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.
Now they have set their sights on a midfielder to replace Fernandinho and a left-back.
Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips and Brighton ’s Catalan defender Marc Cucurella are the players in the frame.
City are yet to lodge a bid for either player.
But, according to a report by Football Insider, they have already agreed personal terms with Cucurella.
De Ligt on City radar
Italian website Calciomercato says City are interested in Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt.
City were indeed monitoring the Dutchman before he joined the Italian club from Ajax.
With Ruben Dias, John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake already at the Etihad, it seems unlikely that they will sign De Ligt.
But there are likely to be sales at the Etihad.
The Blues have already banked £20million from the sale of keeper Gavin Bazunu’s move to Southampton and Pedro Porro’s switch to Sporting Lisbon.
Duo heading for exit
And they could raise another £100million by allowing Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to leave the club.
Jesus has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal and his £40million departure from City could be sealed today, according to a report in the Express.
Chelsea and Paris St Germain have also been tracking Jesus, according to the report.
Chelsea’s disappointment at seeing the Brazilian join their London rivals could be eased by the arrival of Jesus’ City team-mate Sterling.
The England winger has just 12 months left on his contract and would prefer to move to a club that can offer him Champions League football, according to the Express.
That would rule out Arsenal - but it puts Chelsea in pole position to land Sterling, although City’s £60million asking price does not appeal to new owner Todd Boehly.
