Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Antonio Rudiger, Nicolas Otamendi Rumours

Manchester City reportedly hope to complete a deal for Roma defender Antonio Rudiger at the end of the season.

According to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror, City manager Pep Guardiola has identified the Germany international as the man to help shore up his brittle defence. The 24-year-old would cost around £30 million to bring to the Etihad Stadium.

City are said to "have had scouts at every one of Rudiger's games in recent months" and be keen to open talks with the player's representatives "as early as next week." Chelsea are also reportedly interested in the defender.

Rudiger is rated as one of the most exciting rising stars in German football and has been performing well for Roma since returning from a serious injury layoff. Here's a look at what he can do:

The German looks tailor-made for the English game. He enjoys physical battles and is dynamic in his defensive work, making him the ideal potential foil for City's most recent big-money defensive signing, John Stones.

Per McDonnell, Rudiger's versatility is also said to be a key trait for Guardiola. The defender has lined up in different systems for Luciano Spalletti's fluid Roma team this term, playing on the right and the left side of the defence at different times.

As noted by football writer David Amoyal, Rudiger has been at his best alongside Federico Fazio and Kostas Manolas in a back three:

For City, not only does he tick boxes in terms of style and versatility, but Rudiger is also a young player Guardiola could build his defence around.

The likes of Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov have been fine players for the club, but they're on the wrong side of their peak years. Some fresh impetus and physicality is needed at the base of the team. Rudiger would provide it.

Nicolas Otamendi Rumours

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According to El Confidencial (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express), City centre-back Nicolas Otamendi's agent, Jorge Mendes, is trying to pave the way for a potential move to Real Madrid for his client.

It's reported Mendes has already spoken to representatives for the European champions about a switch in the summer.

Short noted that Madrid were said to be interested in signing Otamendi from Valencia in the summer of 2015, although City got there ahead of Los Blancos. However, since his move to the Premier League, Otamendi has failed to show the kind of form that made him so popular at the Mestalla.

Here's a reminder of just how good the Argentina international was for Valencia during the 2014-15 season:

There are times when Otamendi looks excellent. He's an aggressive player, commanding in the air and always looking to get on the front foot. However, far too often at the Etihad Stadium, he's strayed from forceful to farcical.

Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Independent recently suggested the 29-year-old's poor play was affecting his team-mates:

It'd be wrong to attribute all of City's defensive woes to Otamendi, although he's a major contributor. With that in mind, if City were in receipt of a decent offer, it wouldn't be a massive surprise to see them cash in.

And with defensive stalwart Pepe potentially leaving Real at the end of the season, per Short, there could be a gap for Otamendi to fill at the Santiago Bernabeu in a league more suited to his style.