Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on 23-year-old Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, with a surprise summer move being lined up.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Antonee Robinson is the subject of interest from Manchester City over a shock move in the summer transfer window. The 23-year-old defender is being viewed as a potential bargain signing by the Premier League champions, with Championship outfit Fulham valuing him at around £10 million.
Antonee Robinson progressed through the ranks at Everton but never really managed to find a breakthrough in their first-team setup. His first break came on loan at Bolton Wanderers before he spent two years at Wigan Athletic. Last year, the 23-year-old got an opportunity to join AC Milan, but the move fell through on health grounds.
The USMNT international finally joined Fulham last summer and produced a solid campaign, with 32 appearances under his belt so far for the Cottagers. While Fulham have now dropped down to the Championship, Robinson could be set to remain a Premier League player, with Manchester City courting him.
The interest from Manchester City is slightly surprising, considering they currently have two left-backs in the first-team squad in the form of Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Therein could lie the issue, though, with Mendy’s fitness record being questionable while Zinchenko has not been able to nail down his spot in the starting lineup on a regular basis.
Indeed, Pep Guardiola has fielded Joao Cancelo as a left-back quite often and therefore, it is understandable why Manchester City could be eager to sign Robinson. For one, the 23-year-old is a natural left-back, while his £10 million price tag could aid the Premier League champions in saving more funds for priority target Harry Kane.
Jack Grealish is also a big-money target for the Citizens and the attack likely to be bolstered using a lot of money, being cost-effective at the back could be the way to go, making a potential £10 million outlay on Robinson possibly a prudent move for Manchester City.
What now remains to be seen is if the reigning English champions end up launching the offensive over a £10 million transfer for the 23-year-old this summer. For now, Antonee Robinson has emerged as a shock summer target for Manchester City and the biggest move of his career could yet see the light of the day.