Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Pablo Zabaleta and Mahmoud Dahoud Rumours

Manchester City face a fight to keep hold of Pablo Zabaleta next year amid speculation Juventus and Inter Milan are interested in the defender. Meanwhile, City will also have to fight Juve if they're to sign Borussia Monchengladbach's Mahmoud Dahoud. 

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness), the Bianconeri see Zabaleta as a potential replacement for Stephan Lichtsteiner, 32, who looks likely to leave the Turin outfit in 2017.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Dani Alves arrived at the Old Lady from Barcelona during the summer transfer window, but it's believed manager Massimiliano Allegri wants more senior competition in place at right-back.

However, there could be a Serie A tug-of-war in the cards. Goal's Sam Lee reported Inter have already held talks with Zabaleta following City's recent meeting with Barcelona at the Camp Nou:

Lichtsteiner's Juventus contract is due to expire next summer, and it appears unlikely the Switzerland international will pen an extension with the Italian giants, while Zabaleta, 31, will also be a free agent come June.

Zabaleta has featured 10 times across all competitions under manager Pep Guardiola this season, but Football365's Daniel Storey has nonetheless seen holes in the veteran defender's play this term:

Bacary Sagna's injury absence has seen Guardiola lean more heavily on City's stalwart as a result, but there is the sense that Zabaleta may not have been anywhere near as prominent had the Frenchman been fit.

Elsewhere, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Dahoud could also be at the centre of another transfer saga following reports Juve are ready to open the bidding for the Syrian-born playmaker.

TF-Images/Getty Images

That's according to TalkSport, which cited reports from Italy and said the Bianconeri are ready to step up their interest in the player, who is understood to have a clause allowing him to leave Gladbach if the club receive a bid of at least £8.4 million.

City are mentioned as one of the clubs interested in his services, and German football writer Jonathan Harding recently provided a brief of the 20-year-old's skill set:

Dahoud moved to Germany as an infant and joined the Gladbach academy in 2010, advancing through their ranks before emerging as a first-team player in 2014 and becoming a regular feature in the starting XI.

City may have to act fast if they want to land the youngster, however, with Juve reportedly eyeing a £13.5 million offer to claim his signature in January, rather than wait for interest to escalate next summer.