Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Leonardo Bonucci, Reece Oxford

Juventus have played down speculation linking star defender Leonardo Bonucci with Manchester City and Chelsea, while West Ham United's Reece Oxford is reportedly stalling on signing a new deal with the club.

Per the Daily Star (h/t Goal), both City and Chelsea have renewed their interest in Bonucci in recent weeks, with both clubs facing serious defensive question marks. The Citizens watched Vincent Kompany suffer an injury on his return to the pitch against Swansea City, casting serious doubts over his future at the club.

Injuries have been a regular occurrence for the Belgium international. The Daily Telegraph's Alistair Tweedale took a look at his injury history, and the results were not pretty:

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It is his 34th injury since joining the club in 2008 but, astonishingly, his 30th since the start of 2012, when his appointments on the treatment table really started increasing in frequency.

According to data collated by premierinjuries.com, no player has suffered more injuries in the last four-and-a-half years than Kompany.

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Despite the addition of David Luiz, Chelsea's defence has been a weakness since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, with Gary Cahill in particular making a poor impression. Manager Antonio Conte has always worked with strong defences, making Bonucci a key component of both his Juventus side and the Italian national team.

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Juventus director Beppe Marotta has played down speculation, however, speaking to Mediaset Premium (h/t the Manchester Evening News' Ciaran Kelly).

When asked whether there had been contact with any clubs, he said: "No, that’s not what I heard. Right now, no players would be transferable anyway and we haven’t received any offers."

The 29-year-old was linked with a move to the Premier League throughout the summer and recently admitted he was tempted, but his passion for Juventus resulted in him staying in Italy, per Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia):

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If I said that I wasn’t tempted this summer by an offer from England, above all for the coach that wanted me, then that would be a lie.

But Juventus is my home and I am happy to have remained. My dream was to win with this shirt and now I am here, ready to improve as a player and challenge myself to make this team become a legend.

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Bonucci is a key part of the Juventus starting XI and the youngest of their regular starters, with Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli both well over the age of 30. The Bianconeri have no need to sell Bonucci, and the Italy international is expected to nurture their next generation of star defenders, consisting of Daniele Rugani and Filippo Romagna.

Here's a look at some of his highlights:

Depth isn't an issue for Juventus, but Bonucci is one of the club's most popular players, and fans would not be happy if he was moved. Coupled with his love for the club, it will likely take a massive offer to make such an unlikely transfer happen.

Meanwhile, ESPN FC report both City and Manchester United are keeping an eye on Oxford's contract negotiations. According to the report, the teenager and the Hammers have been discussing a new contract for months, but negotiations have come to a standstill.

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The defender, who can also play in midfield and is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in England, has barely featured during the 2016-17 season so far, despite West Ham's defensive issues.

Oxford would be a fantastic long-term investment, and a defensive partnership of him and John Stones could be one of the Premier League's best for years to come if both make good on their immense potential.