Manchester City are keeping close tabs on the progress of San Lorenzo’s Argentinean left-back Nicolas Fernandez, reports TNT Sports.
A product of the San Lorenzo youth academy, Nicolas Fernandez, 22, only made his first-team debut for the club last year. Since then, the defender has slowly but steadily progressed and become an integral member of San Lorenzo’s senior side, scoring two goals in 24 appearances.
Predominantly a left-back, the Argentinean has been used in more advanced positions down the left while he has also operated as a defensive midfielder on a few occasions. Fernandez was on the radar of River Plate in the last transfer window but the Argentinean giants were priced out of a move, TNT Sports claims.
Now, Manchester City are monitoring Fernandez ahead of a possible summer swoop. The Sky Blues secured the signing of highly-rated striker Julian Alvarez from River Plate last month and are planning to raid the South American market again.
Boca Juniors pair Exequiel Zeballos and Valentin Barco have already been linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium earlier this month, with Pep Guardiola keen on bolstering City’s pool of talented youngsters.
Nicolas Fernandez is the latest South American talent to fall on the radar of Manchester City. The Cityzens have sent officials to monitor him closely in San Lorenzo’s game against Gimnasia in La Plata in the League Cup, the report adds.
Perhaps, Man City’s interest in Fernandez stems from the uncertainty surrounding the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukrainian international was the subject of interest from Real Betis last month but he decided to stay put at the club. Owing to lack of game time this season, Zinchenko may decide to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.
Benjamin Mendy is indefinitely suspended, and Joao Cancelo needs sufficient rest to keep himself fit and firing in the years to come after largely operating at left-back this term. This makes Nicolas Fernandez a viable target for Man City.
At City, Fernandez would cover and compete with Cancelo for the left-back spot, whilst operating in advanced positions down the left when required. Due to the young Argentinean’s contract with San Lorenzo up in 2023, the Sky Blues potentially have a chance of signing another bargain from the South American market.