Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for €50 million-rated Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti in the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to Fichajes, Manchester City have PSG wantaway star Marco Verratti on their transfer radar, with the future of Ilkay Gundogan in serious doubt amid Arsenal’s interest.
The Premier League giants have sealed another title victory, with Pep Guardiola’s side overtaking Arsenal to finish with a bang. It means that the club have now bagged three top-flight trophies in a row and will have their eyes set firmly on adding the FA Cup and Champions League to achieve a remarkable treble.
Heading into next season, though, the side could be set to lose some of the most important players. Gundogan, who has been with the club for seven years, looks like he could be set to depart with his contract coming to an end.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are the latest side to express an interest in his services and could look to lure him away this summer. Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips continues to be linked with an exit due to his struggles for action this term.
That would leave a gaping hole in the centre of the pitch for City, one that could be filled by Verratti. The 30-year-old joined the French giants from Pescara in 2012 and has established himself as one of the best orchestrators in world football.
He has racked up 414 appearances for the club in all competitions, contributing 11 goals and 61 assists in the process. This season, Verratti has featured 36 times, providing one assist, but he has faced criticism from sections of the club’s fanbase for some lacklustre performances — something he believes to be unfair and is believed to be seeking a new challenge.
Verratti has been linked with a transfer away from the club on several occasions, even before. In 2017, the player requested to join Barcelona, but President Nasser Al-Khelaifi asked him to produce an apology video on the club’s official social media. The difference this time is that the Parisians are reportedly open to listening to offers for the 30-year-old, who could be made available for a hefty €50 million fee.
Verratti, whose deal runs until June 2026, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent days, with Carlo Ancelotti apparently pushing to secure his compatriot’s signature. However, French outlet RMC Sport has claimed otherwise, suggesting the Merengues do not plan on bringing the 30-year-old to Spain’s capital city.
This could open the door for Manchester City, who are expected to be in the market for at least one central midfielder this summer. If Verratti is available on a cut-price deal, it would make sense for Manchester City to sign him despite the fact that he is not suitable for the club’s transfer policy, which focuses on signing younger players to develop in the first team.
Verratti is an exceptional player when it comes to controlling the midfielder and is one of the most complete midfielders available in the market, perfectly suitable to fill in for or alongside Rodri in the double pivot. He would be an excellent addition to the Manchester City squad if they did end up engineering a deal for him.