City_Sean
Well-Known Member
Telegraph saying we could make a move for him...Demichelis replacement?
Manchester City are monitoring Southampton defender Toby Alderweireld ahead of a potential summer move for the Belgium international.
Alderweireld, currently on loan at St Mary’s from Atlético Madrid, has emerged as a key figure in Southampton’s pursuit of Champions League qualification under manager Ronald Koeman.
But despite Southampton agreeing a £6.8 million option to sign the 25-year-old permanently from the Spanish champions at the end of the season, Atlético are understood to be able to buy out the clause for £1.5m and then sell the player to the highest bidder.
With City aiming to lower the average age of Manuel Pellegrini’s squad – which is currently the oldest in the Premier League – over the next two summer transfer windows, Alderweireld has been identified by director of football Txiki Begiristain as a prospective target due to his ability to play at full-back and centre-half.
Begiristain is also interested in luring another Belgian, Wolfsburg’s former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, to the Etihad Stadium, but the 23-year-old is set to be handed a lucrative new contract by the German club in order to discourage interest from Premier League clubs.