Pep Guardiola has already given verdict on Man City's Pedro Porro stance amid transfer links

Manchester City have been linked with a sensational swoop for Tottenham right-back and former Blue Pedro Porro - a player who Pep Guardiola has already admitted is on his 'list' of targets.

Reports earlier this week suggested City are exploring the possibility of re-signing the player they sold to Sporting Lisbon for just £7.2million back in 2022. Two years will have passed since that decision come May and it is looking an increasingly poor one, with the Spaniard now among the Premier League's best right-backs and excelling in a system similar to Guardiola's.

Under Ange Postecoglou, Porro's involvement in games is more akin to an attacking midfielder than it is a defender and seven league assists this season is not a fortunate tally. It is a similar role to that he enjoyed at Sporting and his form in the Portuguese capital caught the eye of Guardiola last year.

Following the surprise loan exit of Joao Cancelo to Bayern Munich, City were left scouring the January market for potential replacements. The Blues decided to go without reinforcements and Porro went to Tottenham on deadline day, but Guardiola was open about his admiration for the versatile defender.

“He [Porro] is perfect to play with five at the back and last season we suffered when we play against them,” Guardiola said. “Sporting against Tottenham in the group stage this year [in the Champions League], I saw both games and Pedro Porro played really good.

“No [we didn’t think about signing him]. He was on the list and we would have to pay a buy-back clause and he decided to go to Spurs.”

Watching Porro under Postecoglou this season, City may regret not forking out for Porro, who cost Tottenham £42m that window. Any move for the 24-year-old this summer could cost double, with reports suggesting Spurs will demand close to £100m - and chairman Daniel Levy is notoriously not one for negotiation.

City's need for a right-back is growing more and more urgent by the week, with Kyle Walker - who signed a three-year contract in September - turning 34 in May and beyond his best days. Rico Lewis continues to impress and is only 19, but cannot be relied upon as the sole option for a three-game-per-week season.

If City do enter the summer market for a right-back in the summer then Porro will no doubt have remained on their list. Whether they swallow their pride and return for an old outcast remains to be seen but it could cost them.