Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Steven N'Zonzi and Julian Weigl

Manchester City are reportedly hopeful they can still sign Sevilla midfielder Steven N'Zonzi ahead of Serie A giants Juventus, despite also facing competition from Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Perhaps that's why the Citizens are being linked with the former Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City enforcer, per Spanish publication AS (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express), who also noted how Turin outfit Juve have taken the first steps, though:

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According to the report, Juventus are talking to Sevilla but the Serie A champions will not pay his £25.5million (€30m) release clause.

Juve are keen to get the deal signed off but have so far failed to make a convincing offer to Sevilla, opening the door for Chelsea or City to swoop in.

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The reports also detailed how defensive reinforcements will be City manager Pep Guardiola's main focus during the winter transfer window. A player who can shield the defence as well as N'Zonzi would fit the bill.

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Still, N'Zonzi is a curious fit for the Citizens, but if Guardiola wants a midfielder who is more of a destroyer, he won't find many better than Sevilla's Frenchman. N'Zonzi is an accomplished player but not one you'd usually associate with Guardiola.

While he's stayed a tough tackler and aerial menace, the rugged 28-year-old isn't the most composed in possession. Specifically, N'Zonzi isn't particularly forward thinking with his passing.

City's game is about quick combinations of passes between rotating triangles of players who transition the ball imaginatively and at pace between the lines. N'Zonzi is a more deliberate player, one who might provide some defensive balance in front of a shaky back four but not one who will advance City's attacking mettle.

Guardiola Keen on Borussia Dortmund Playmaker

City will reportedly rival Barcelona to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Weigl. Guardiola will rely on ex-Barca official Txiki Begiristain, now City's director of football, to help broker a deal.

Barcelona technical director Roberto Fernandez is already working on signing 21-year-old Weigl, according to Spanish publication AS (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express).

Significantly, though, the reports also seem to indicate it's City who have the edge in the race for Weigl: "It is claimed Barca have tracked Weigl for a long time but they may have left it too late to land a deal. City have the financial might to outmuscle Barca in the market if it came to a bidding war for Weigl's services next month."

Yet City's advantage may be about more than just fiscal resources. The AS story (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness) has also credited Begiristain's involvement as a factor. Begiristain once helped Guardiola rebuild Barca into a force, both in Spain and in the UEFA Champions League.

Landing Weigl would be a major coup for any top club in the game. Despite his tender years, there are few better deep-lying playmakers than the classy German.

Ostensibly a defensive midfielder, Weigl is more forward thinking with his passing. His range and vision are key weapons in the way Dortmund quickly build attacks from the back and adhere to a stylish, possession-based game.

In fact, Weigl is so highly rated in Dortmund that he recently signed a lucrative new contract with the Bundesliga club. The precocious midfield general penned his name to a deal set to keep him in Dortmund for the next four-and-a-half years earlier this month, per MailOnline's Jonny Singer.

Still, it makes sense for City to have remained keen on the burgeoning pass-master. Weigl boasts all the attributes to be an instant success in Guardiola's pass-heavy style of play.

The City boss has tried converting Fernandinho into the deep playmaker role this season. He also has fellow Brazilian Fernando to call on, although the burly 6' 154-pound player is known more for his destructive instincts rather than his creative qualities.

A manager as focused on what happens going forward as Guardiola will likely want a more progressive player to underpin his midfield. It means Weigl remains a better option than N'Zonzi for the Citizens if they dip into the transfer market.