Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Leonardo Bonucci and Yaya Toure Rumours
Manchester City will reportedly battle Premier League rivals Chelsea to sign £50 million-rated Juventus centre-back Leonardo Bonucci in January.
The rumour comes from an exclusive by Daily Star writers Tony Stenson and Steve Millar. They have stated how City manager Pep Guardiola considers Bonucci "one of his favourite players."
The report also detailed how league leaders City will look to strengthen their defence in the winter transfer window amid the ongoing injury issues facing Vincent Kompany. The Belgian defender limped out of the Manchester club's recent EFL Cup win over Swansea City.
Kompany picked up a groin problem on his comeback from a lengthy absence due to a calf injury, per BBC Sport, and his inability to stay fit only highlights City's threadbare options at the heart of defence.
John Stones was a big-money summer signing, and the England international's composure on the ball is already thriving in Guardiola's possession-based system. The former Everton man has been partnered with Nicolas Otamendi after the City boss sent Eliaquim Mangala out on loan.
The decision leaves Guardiola counting on converted left-back Aleksandar Kolarov in the event of injuries or rotation. Right-back Bacary Sagna can also play in the middle, but title-chasers City need more credible solutions.
Guardiola's men are four points clear at the summit of England's top flight after six wins from six, per the division's official website. The Citizens are playing slick and expansive passing football no team has yet been able to repel.
But if there's one doubt about Guardiola's men, it concerns their solidity at the back. Things would look a lot stronger with a marquee defender next to Stones.
Bonucci fits the bill as a centre-back whose quality on the ball exceeds even that of Stones. But City may have a hard time beating Chelsea to his signature.
After all, Bonucci worked well with current Blues manager Antonio Conte at Juventus. Still, if City continue to fly high, Bonucci may find Guardiola's project too exciting to refuse.
Guardiola Ready to Sign Yaya Toure Replacement
One player who seems set not to be part of Guardiola's plans is Yaya Toure. The City boss is reportedly already lining up Toure's replacement, in the form of Atalanta's teenage prodigy, Franck Kessie.
That's according to Neil Fissler of the Sunday Express. He detailed how Guardiola has monitored Kessie's progress and where he believes the 19-year-old Ivorian would fit in at City:
"Guardiola had his scouts in the stands to check out Kessie when Atalanta suffered defeat at home to Palermo last week.
He sees Kessie as the ideal replacement for four-time African Footballer of the Year Toure, 33, who has been out of favour since Guardiola took over in the summer.
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Fissler also relayed how Guardiola's frosty relationship with Toure's agent, Dimitri Seluk, is pushing the Ivory Coast veteran rapidly toward the exit door. Seluk has "revealed there is a '99.9 per cent' chance his client will leave in January."
The agent has frequently attacked Guardiola for leaving Toure out of his teams this season, according to Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror (h/t Sky Sports), and his criticism has prompted Guardiola to demand an apology.
However, Seluk doesn't seem ready to apologise. In fact, he may even sue, according to Mullock. A messy divorce increasingly seems like the only outcome between Toure and City.
Toure is rumoured to want to stay in the Premier League even if he leaves City, per MailOnline's Chris Wheeler. Still, it would be a sad way for the career of one of the club's most decorated players to end.
Toure has won two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup during his time with the Citizens. But everything Guardiola has done since taking over indicates he's ready to move on from the 33-year-old.
If City sign Bonucci, Toure won't be the only member of the old guard whose City future is in doubt, as Kompany's status will also be called into question.
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