Manchester City eye move for Borussia Monchengladbach starlet
According to reports from German news outlet Tag 24, Manchester City are among a few clubs interested in signing Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.
Denis Zakaria, 24, has developed himself into one of Europe’s sought-after midfielders in recent years. The Switzerland international’s impressive performances in the Borussia Monchengladbach midfield hasn’t gone unnoticed, with European clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona vying for his signature last year, Tag 24 reports.
More from Man City Transfer Rumors
- Real Madrid to sign Julian Alvarez next year?
- Man City submit new bid for Matheus Nunes, after first was rejected
- Manchester City’s busy transfer week rounded-up
- Manchester City reported to make a sensational move for FC Barcelona midfielder
- Fulham and West Ham register interest in Manchester City defender
However, a serious knee injury sustained in March 2020, which kept him out on the sidelines for eight long months, denied the 24-year-old midfield enforcer a dream move to one of Europe’s elites and Borussia Monchengladbach a hefty chunk of money.
Now, fully fit and running and has recently participated in the Euro 2020, Zakaria is very likely to leave Borussia-Park this summer.
Apart from Manchester City, Arsenal and Napoli are also interested in the Swiss midfielder, who has only 12 months left on his current deal, the report adds.
Gladbach sports director Max Eberl wants to extend Zakaria’s contract, but the player wants to leave the club for pastures new.
As the Bundesliga club have made it clear that no player will be allowed to leave on a free transfer, they are bound to sell the 24-year-old in this transfer window.
However, the German outfit are yet to receive an offer for their star. The report concludes by stating that new Gladbach head coach Adi Hutter can persuade Zakaria to stay at the club, having managed him at his former club BSC Young Boys.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s interest in Zakaria doesn’t come as a surprise with manager Pep Guardiola looking to reinforce a couple of positions in his squad. Despite Fernandinho penning a new one-year extension, Guardiola must add more quality to his midfield department.
Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne sustained injuries at different junctures last season, disturbing the balance of Guardiola’s starting XI in the process. De Bruyne, a key cog in Guardiola’s system, has had rotten luck with injuries over the last couple of years and recently played in Belgium’s Euro 2020 quarter-final defeat to Italy with ankle ligament damage.
Manchester City attentive to Barcelona superstar amid contract wait. dark. Next
To avoid the risk of losing players like Gundogan and De Bruyne to injuries next term as well, Guardiola would be wise to make a move for Zakaria. The Gladbach star is a top player who’ll add quality as well as strength in depth to City’s squad.
The position of Zakaria at Gladbach will become clearer after he returns from vacation in the next few weeks.