Manchester City monitoring the situation of AS Monaco starlet
Manchester City are monitoring the situation of defender Benoit Badiashile, who has been linked with a move away from AS Monaco, reports RMC Sport.
A product of the AS Monaco academy, Benoit Badiashile, 20, broke into the first-team back in the 2018/19 campaign and has gone on to play over 100 times, establishing himself as an important cog in The Monegasques’ wheel.
The France under-21 international has been on the radar of Newcastle United, with Eddie Howe keen on reinforcing his backline. In fact, RMC Sport claims that Newcastle United have held talks with AS Monaco and were on the verge of sending a serious offer, only for the player’s recent thigh injury scuppering a potential move this month.
Moreover, Newcastle aren’t the only club interested in Benoit Badiashile. West Ham and Manchester City are also keeping close tabs on the Frenchman, with other European clubs having already started planning for the summer, the report adds.
As for Manchester City, any move for the AS Monaco defender would be dependent on the exit of Nathan Ake, who has been heavily linked with a move to AC Milan in recent times.
Ake, 26, has failed to cement his place in the Man City starting XI since arriving from Bournemouth in 2020 as he continues to find himself behind the likes of Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones in the defensive pecking order.
Next. Manchester City enter the transfer race for Sevilla’s defensive wall. dark
It looks unlikely that Pep Guardiola would allow the Dutchman to leave the Etihad Stadium in this window, with the Sky Blues currently participating in three competitions. If a move away from Man City is to materialise for Ake, it will happen in the summer.
Badiashile, in that regard, could be a solid replacement for Ake at the Etihad Stadium. Still just 20-years-old, it goes without saying that Badiashile is very young and has a long way to go to reach his true potential.