Representatives from both the Manchester clubs have been watching the 23-year-old Ivorian defender closely
Cross-town rivals Manchester City and Manchester United are set to battle each-other off the field in a race to sign PSG right-back Serge Aurier, according to English newspaper Daily Star Sunday.
The report suggests scouts from both Manchester City and Manchester United were in attendance for Ivory Coast’s match against France last Tuesday to witness the PSG defender in action, with reports in France also claiming Pep Guardiola has been in touch with the player’s advisers.
Daily Sport Sunday state PSG are willing to consider offers in the region of £20 million for Serge Aurier, with Spanish giants Barcelona also said to be interested in his services.
While Serge Aurier’s talent on the field remains unquestioned, the player is not averse to conflicts and controversies off the field.
Back in February 2016, the Ivorian was recorded calling his team-mate Angel Di Maria a ‘clown’, while also dishing out some very unkind words towards Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Salvatore Sirigu and then head-coach, Laurent Blanc. Aurier was suspended by the club after this incident, and was ordered to play to train with the PSG reserve team for a month.
The former Toulouse defender, who is also a self-proclaimed Arsenal fan, is currently appealing a two-month prison sentence for elbowing a police officer.
Jose Mourinho is reported to be plotting for a defensive overhaul, while right-back has been an area of concern for Pep Guardiola, with 31-year-old Pablo Zabaleta and 33-year-old Bacary Sagna as his options. As such, the 23 year old Serge Aurier, has the right profile to be a perfect fit for the both the managers, but what remains to be seen is whether they consider it worth to afford the baggage he carries.
