Manchester City have reportedly “asked for information” about €50 million-rated Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
That is according to a report by TuttoMercatoWeb, as cited by Sport Witness, which claims Manchester City are among the clubs interested in signing Atalanta’s defensive sensation Giorgio Scalvini, with manager Pep Guardiola not “entirely satisfied” with his existing centre-back options at the club.
The Atalanta defender has been a revelation since breaking into La Dea’s first team as a 17-year-old, and his ascent has been rapid, with Scalvini a regular in the Italy national team these days, having already earned seven caps for the Azzurri.
The 20-year-old was handed his club debut by Gian Piero Gasperini against Udinese in October 2021, and he has kept his place in the side ever since, emerging as one of the most sought-after centre-backs in Europe.
An excellent ball-playing defender who also has the physicality needed to battle with powerful strikers, Scalvini has made 18 appearances in all competitions, scoring once in the process. With plenty of clubs hot on his trail, it will be difficult for La Dea to hold on to Scalvini for a long time.
Manchester City are among a host of clubs showing an interest in Scalvini’s services, having previously identified him as an alternative target to Josko Gvardiol in the summer transfer window.
The 21-year-old Croat eventually joined the Cityzens in a deal worth £78 million in August, but while his best position is as a centre-back, he has featured mostly as a left-back this season, with Guardiola preferring to play the likes of Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, and Nathan Ake in central areas.
The aforementioned names are high-class defenders, but some of them have been unusually error-prone this term, which has resulted in their shoddy displays lately.
Scalvini has already showcased his ability despite his age, and it suggests he may have the potential to get even better. City and Scalvini could be a good match, with Guardiola helping to coach the player to reach the next level.
The Sky Blues are continuing to monitor him, and the above report claims any potential move for the Italian is unlikely to be cheap, with Atalanta demanding €50 million for their prized asset, but they would be open to listening to offers for “around €45m+bonuses.”
This is evidently big money for such a young player. However, it may end up being worth it, as Scalvini could potentially become a regular starter for Manchester City for over 10 years.
