City Consider Two Alternatives As 73M Move For Serie A Colossus Stalls

Manchester City will consider making bids for Sevilla’s Diego Carlos and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Gimenez before the transfer window closes, according to reports in the English media.

The Citizens are on the verge of giving up on signing Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly after they refused to match the Serie A side’s €80m (£73m) valuation of the player.

Carlos, who has also been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, has a release clause of €75m (£68m) while Gimenez has a buyout fee worth €120m (£109m). However, it is said that City will only make bids for the two players below these amounts, which raises doubts over whether a centre-back will be brought in before the transfer deadline.

Atletico, in particular, are reportedly adamant they will not sell Gimenez for below his release clause, which is likely to make the Uruguayan international an unrealistic purchase.

Pep Guardiola’s side have strengthened the centre of defence ahead of the start of the Premier League season, after snapping up Nathan Ake from Bournemouth. Even so, it is thought that the Dutchman will be used as a utility player and he is unlikely to be Aymeric Laporte’s regular centre-back partner as both players are left-footed.

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