Manchester City – Transfer Round-Up

The covers of newspapers inform on Argentinian forward Lionel Messi's wish to leave FC Barcelona, on August 26, 2020, in Barcelona. - Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave -- on a free transfer -- in a "bombshell" fax yesterday that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract "unilaterally" by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)
The covers of newspapers inform on Argentinian forward Lionel Messi's wish to leave FC Barcelona, on August 26, 2020, in Barcelona. - Six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave -- on a free transfer -- in a "bombshell" fax yesterday that is expected to spark a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract "unilaterally" by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP. (Photo by Pau BARRENA / AFP) (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester City’s transfer activity has remained uneventful, especially after Lionel Messi announced that he would stay at Barcelona.

The Sky Blues are keen on signing center back Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli, but the English have been frustrated with the Italians. City have reportedly made several bids for the Senegalese player, but Napoli have yet to accept their offer. Should the English club fail to sign Koulibaly, Internazionale’s Milan Škriniar and Benfica’s Rúben Dias remain as viable options.

Aside from center back, City should also address their situations at left back and striker.

The continued absence of Benjamin Mendy through injury and the inconsistency of midfielder-turned-defender Oleksandr Zinchenko have led the club to explore their options at left back. City were previously linked to Ben Chilwell, but the former Leicester City player recently signed for Chelsea. David Alaba has also been an option, but the Austrian just won his second UEFA Champions League title with Bayern München, thus it may be unlikely that he would want to leave the German club. Everton’s Lucas Digne still remains as a possibility.

More from Man City Square

As for striker, Sergio Agüero continues to be a major playmaker for the club, but the Argentine has an unfortunate history of injuries. Gabriel Jesus filled in for Agüero during these circumstances, but the Brazilian striker has yet to replicate the successes of his Argentine teammate. City have been recently linked to Internazionale’s Lautaro Martinez, but the degree of seriousness for this potential transfer is unknown.

Manchester City still have time to pursue their transfer targets (the 2020 Summer Transfer Window closes on 5 October), but as the Sky Blues near their first match of the 2020/21 season, other priorities might prevail.