Manchester City are almost there in this year’s Premier League in their bid to keep their place in the top four, ousting close rivals Arsenal and Manchester United on the points table. Next thing for them will be to rebuild their squad for the next season, trying not to repeat the mistakes of the present season, which has not been satisfactory given their high standards, to say the least.
While strikers and midfielders have performed well enough to book them a place in the top four this term, the defence has been an area of head-ache for the current club coach Pep Guardiola. With players like John Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov out with injuries for a long period of time, pressure has piled on club captain Vincent Kompany to hold the fort for his team at the back, especially during the run-in.
Manchester City have also lost one of their most reliable defenders, Pablo Zabaleta, as the latter played his last match against West Bromwich Albion in a City jersey, with the result going in the favour of The Citizens. Apart from that, defenders Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy has not been in the best of forms for them and with their contract already expiring after this season, they might be shown the door by the club.
The present situation is calling for reinforcements to be brought into the side and Pep Guardiola is eyeing quite a few options including defenders from both England and Europe. One such name, which is right at the top of the priority list for The Citizens for the next season is the French defender Issa Diop, who currently plays for the club Toulouse in the French Ligue 1.
The defender has been at the top of his game in the current season for the French Ligue 1 side and has attracted interest from big name clubs from all over Europe. Apart from Manchester City, Arsenal and this season’s Premier League champions Chelsea are also in the run to sign the brilliant centre-back for the next season.
Reportedly, German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig are also looking to secure the services of the French Under 21 international for the next season. Sources suggest that they have been looking to rope the defender in with a £10 million bid, only to see it getting rejected by Diop’s current club, Toulouse.
As per reports, the French club might only be interested in listening to bids for their prized possession in case it is equal to or higher than £20 million. This indicates that the defender is not going to come cheap irrespective of the taker.
