Man City pushing to sign Juventus star as replacement for Kyle Walker as Serie A side slap huge €80m price tag on defender

According to Sky Sports Italy, City are intensifying their efforts to sign Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso as they look to reinforce their defence. City have already prepared an initial bid of €65 million (£54.7/$67m) million) for the versatile full-back. However, Juventus are holding firm on their valuation of €80m (£67m/$82m) as they do want to sell the player in January. Moreover, he has a contract until 2029 which hands the Turin giants a favourable position on the negotiating table.

City’s pursuit of Cambiaso comes as speculation grows about Walker’s future at the Etihad Stadium. The 34-year-old full-back has been a mainstay in City’s defence for several years but has asked to explore potential options abroad and has been linked with a move to AC Milan.

Despite the optimism from Italian sources, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the status of the deal. The BBC has suggested that talks between Manchester City and Juventus are not as advanced as previously claimed. According to their sources, there is no certainty that the transfer will be completed during the current window.

Cambiaso’s contributions this season have been noteworthy, with the defender featuring in 25 matches across all competitions for Juventus. During this period, he has scored twice and provided two assists. However, the player missed Juventus’ 2-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City in December due to an ankle injury.

City have been particularly active in the January transfer window as they seek to strengthen multiple areas of their squad. The club is on the verge of signing Brazilian teenager Vitor Reis, who is reportedly undergoing a medical to finalize his move from Palmeiras. Additionally, City have reached an agreement with French club Lens for the transfer of Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov. The Premier League side have also reached agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal for Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush. This series of moves underscore the club’s ambition to rejuvenate their roster as they currently find themselves in the sixth position in the Premier League table.