Man City ‘exploring’ deals for Wolves & Crystal Palace midfielders

Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Matheus Nunes and Eberechi Eze, as the champions’ search for a Kevin De Bruyne replacement continues.

The Belgian midfielder is expected to be out until the new year and Pep Guardiola admitted last week that the club could have to ‘make some important decisions’ in the transfer market before the window shuts next Friday. With Ilkay Gundogan also departing this summer, City are a little light in the centre of the park.

It’s why the Blues are reportedly keen on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Nunes, who Guardiola last year described as ‘one of the best players in world football’. The Athletic report that the 24-year-old is high on City’s small list of midfield candidates.

The outlet add that Wolves are ‘unlikely to welcome City’s interest so close to the summer market closing’ but the Midlands club could find it difficult to turn down a significant offer given their unhealthy financial situation.

Nunes has played both of Wolves’ matches this season, and was sent off in the latter stages of the 4-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Meanwhile, The Athletic claim Eze is another player on City’s list. The ex-Queens Park Rangers man joined Crystal Palace in 2020 and has made 95 appearances for the club.

The Daily Mail also report City are interested in Eze and have been monitoring him for six months, with senior scouts ‘heavily impressed’ by his performances for Palace. The England international could cost City north of £70m, the Mail add.

The pursuit of Nunes and Eze comes after a potential transfer for West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta broke down last week, amid allegations of betting malpractice in Brazil.

City will hope to sign an attacking midfielder in the final stages of the window, with the arrival of Jeremy Doku from Rennes expected to be announced soon. The European champions have agreed a fee of €65m (£55.4m) for the Belgian, who is expected to be announced later this week as the club’s third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Josko Gvardiol and Matoe Kovacic.

Elsewhere, Aymeric Laporte is close to joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr in a move worth €27.5m (£23.4m). The experienced defender has fallen to sixth choice at the heart of defence.