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LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18:  Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring their second goal with Kyle Walker of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at White Hart Lane on December 18, 2016 in London, England.  (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18: Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring their second goal with Kyle Walker of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at White Hart Lane on December 18, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Danny Rose, Kyle Walker, Joe Hart Rumours

Matt JonesApr 15, 2017

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen to strengthen his squad with some homegrown talent this summer and will target Tottenham Hotspur pair Danny Rose and Kyle Walker.

According to James Robson of the Manchester Evening News, Guardiola is happy to leave the club's transfer business in the hands of the club's director of football Txiki Begiristain, with City said to be ready to spend £200 million to bolster the squad. Rose and Walker are reported to be on that list.

"The Catalan will buy at least three defenders and also wants to add more firepower to his attack," the report continued.

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Hull City at Etihad Stadium on April 8, 2017 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The defensive side of the City team has been particularly flimsy at times this season, especially at full-back, where Guardiola only has options that are past their best. Walker and Rose, undoubtedly, would be a massive upgrade.

Robson noted Guardiola's interest in the Spurs men recently and suggested Walker would be the most attainable:

But given just how important the two full-backs have become at Tottenham, it's tough to see how City would prise either man away.

In many ways, the duo epitomise Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino in that they're dynamic, aggressive, physical and operate with remarkable intensity. While there were doubts about each of Walker and Rose earlier in their careers, they've refined their skills and become among the best full-backs in the division.

As this graphic from BBC (via Ball Street) noted earlier in the campaign, the pair have a tremendous attacking appetite:

In the past, City may have been able to pinch players from Tottenham, with the promise of Champions League football and a lavish salary key factors. But Spurs are going places.

Indeed, in the last couple of Premier League campaigns, they've outperformed City, and under Pochettino, they are the closest challengers to Chelsea this term. It means that City would have to part with a massive amount to sign just one of these stars.

Torino Want Joe Hart Stay

ROME, ITALY - MARCH 13: Joe Hart of FC Torino gestures during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and FC Torino at Stadio Olimpico on March 13, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Chris Brunskill Ltd/Getty Images)

Torino manager Sinisa Mihajlovic has spoken of his desire to keep Joe Hart at the club, although he has said they will struggle to afford to make his loan deal from Manchester City a permanent move.

"I would like Hart to stay at Torino," said Mihajlovic, per Rory Keane of the MailOnline. "But we know, and the club and him too, that we can't buy him. ... We would like to know soon because if we have Hart here next year then that is one thing, but if not we have to make other plans."

Although the England international stopper has been inconsistent this season in Turin, he's become a popular figure with the club's supporters.

Here are some of his best moments:

Indeed, the on-loan City man has flung himself into the club's culture and is desperate to succeed with his temporary team.

Bleacher Report's Adam Digby recently broke down his campaign in Serie A:

Hart was axed by Guardiola at the beginning of the 2016-17 season in favour of Willy Caballero and then new signing Claudio Bravo, with the City manager preferring a goalkeeper more comfortable with the ball at his feet.

Although it's debatable as to whether either of the current City options represent an upgrade on Hart, the Englishman is unlikely to have a long-term future at the Etihad Stadium. If Guardiola wants to see his side conquer European football, a world-class operator at the base of the team is required.

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