MANCHESTER CITY are eyeing a transfer move for Leonardo Bonucci but face a battle in persuading Juventus to sell the experienced centre-back, Italian reports claim.
Etihad boss Guardiola is desperate for defensive reinforcements after being punished this season for not replacing ex-captain Vincent Kompany, who ended his 11-year stint with the club last year.
Man City are eyeing a transfer move for Leonardo Bonucci
According to Calcio, the Premier League champions are keen on 32-year-old Bonucci, but Juve boss Maurizio Sarri has no intentions of selling the Italian.
Bonucci – who left Turin in 2017 for AC Milan but returned after one season – has made 34 appearances in all competitions this campaign.
He has been a vital part of Sarri’s backline alongside summer signing Matthijs de Ligt, who have been preferred over Giorgio Chiellini and Daniele Rugani.
But Guardiola is a long-time admirer of Bonucci, who he once described as an “exceptional player” and praised his character and personality.
The City boss has been without Frenchman Aymeric Laporte for the majority of the season.
Laporte first picked up an injury in August, but on his return to the squad in the new year he again picked up a knock, being substituted against Real Madrid in late February.
It has forced Guardiola to deploy midfielder Fernandinho as a makeshift centre-back, alongside Nicolas Otamendi who has played 32 times this season.
England defender John Stones has been made to watch from the bench as Fernandinho filled the gap at the back for City.
Stones has made 20 appearances but started just 10 games in the Premier League with Guardiola seeming to lose trust in the ex-Everton star.
City have also been linked with Schalke wonderkid Malick Thiaw, and Bayer Munich’s David Alaba, who can play both down the middle and at full-back with Guardiola working with the German during his time at the Allianz Arena.
Aymeric Laporte gets back into training with Manchester City
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
