Manchester City now tracking £51m player who has wowed Xabi Alonso for years

Manchester City now tracking £51m player who has wowed Xabi Alonso for years

Manchester City reportedly have their eyes on a potential transfer deal for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacios.

 

During the recent January transfer window, the Manchester club landed a deal to sign River Plate midfielder Claudio Echeverri.

 

While the 18-year-old won’t be arriving at the Etihad Stadium until January 2025, it has now been reported that the Citizens have set their sights on signing another River Plate graduate.

 

City tracking Palacios ahead of summer transfer window

Bayer 04 Leverkusen v Eintracht Frankfurt – Bundesliga

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According to a recent report from journalist Christian Falk, City, as well as fellow Premier League sides Newcastle United and Aston Villa, are tracking Palacios ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window

 

The report also adds that with the midfielder signing a new contract at Leverkusen back in September that isn’t set to expire until 2028, the German club will only consider an offer of at least €60m (£51m) to sell the Argentine.

 

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After scoring 10 goals and supplying 11 assists in 87 appearances for River Plate, the midfielder joined Leverkusen in the 2020 summer window.

 

Since then, Palacios has scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 108 appearances across all competitions.

 

Across his 17 Bundesliga appearances this season, the midfielder has racked up the highest combined total of tackles and interceptions (73) at Leverkusen.

 

 

Back in March, Alonso spoke about the World Cup winner in glowing terms, proving why he has three of England’s biggest clubs looking to land his signature this summer.

 

He said: “Pala has been playing at a very high level for two months. He’s playing with dynamism in attack, with aggression to win the ball back. The better he implements our philosophy and the speed of our game, the better the team will be. The team has very much improved with him and the other midfielders. I’m sure Pala will continue to develop as well.”

 

With all of that taken into account, we feel that the 25-year-old could be a very exciting signing for City to make if they feel he could be a worthwhile addition to their squad.

‘That power’… Pundit stunned by £130k-a-week Man City star v Burnley, suggests he’s showing Gundogan trait

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Manchester City cruised to victory tonight against Burnley at the Etihad Stadium, and there was a very solid performance in midfield from Matheus Nunes.

 

 

City continued their 100% start to 2024, and proved no match for Vincent Kompany’s Burnley this evening, winning 3-1.

 

It did not take long for City to break the deadlock, with Julian Alvarez heading the hosts in front after a good run and cross from Matheus Nunes.

 

The Argentine would double his tally moments later, finishing a wonderful ball from a free-kick from the stupendous De Bruyne.

 

Within seconds of the restart, Rodri made it three, with City then easing to the end of the game, although Ameen Al-Dakhil did grab a late consolation for Burnley.

 

Robbie Savage hails Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes during win over Burnley

Manchester City v Huddersfield Town – Emirates FA Cup Third Round

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Tonight there was a start in midfield for Matheus Nunes, with the Portuguese replacing Mateo Kovacic.

 

Nunes has made a decent start to life with City, but hasn’t completely blown people away just yet. But this was perhaps his best display in sky blue colours to date.

 

£130,000-a-week man Nunes was terrific against the Clarets, and showcased his ball-carrying ability all through the game. He played as a box-to-box midfielder, and he really was everywhere.

 

 

He impressed TNT Sports commentator Robbie Savage, who said of the Portugal international: “I think what Nunes has added to this City side is a willingness to run from midfield. Gundogan did it ever so well in a City shirt. I think his dynamism from the middle of the park has added another string to Man City’s bow. That power running from midfield…”

 

Savage would later select Nunes as his player of the match.

 

Nunes needs to add goals to his game

This was a top display from Nunes who is really starting to find his feet now for City.

 

 

Competition for places is fierce, but he is definitely capable of becoming a regular eventually. His ability to wriggle away from players who are marking him tightly, and then carry the ball over large distances, is quite something.

 

His pace is always a very underrated part of his game, with City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips recently admitting he didn’t actually realise how quick he was.

 

Savage suggested he is making runs like Ilkay Gundogan used to make for City, although the German never had the pace of Nunes.

 

What Nunes does need to do going forward is increase his goal threat. He has yet to open his account for City, but once he does add goals to his game then he will be a serious, serious player.