Manchester City poised to make €35 million opening offer for Kyle Walker replacement | OneFootball

Reports in Brazil are indicating Manchester City have made a decision on their opening bid for a player tipped to be seen as the club’s direct replacement for Kyle Walker.

The veteran England international is due to bring a permanent end to his Etihad Stadium career this summer, with Manchester City officials firmly excluding the 34-year-old from their plans beyond the ongoing season.

Those plans for Walker are expected to stay in place from the side of Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain, irrespective of whether AC Milan opt to secure the defender beyond his six-month loan stay at the San Siro.

With interest from within England, Saudi Arabia, and Major League Soccer, Manchester City are confident they will get the sale all parties are looking for this summer, and as such are progressing with their plans of securing a direct replacement for the full-back.

Among the options the club are believed to be exploring are Juventus’ Nicolo Savona and Andrea Cambiaso, as well as Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento. However, the more advanced of their shortlisted names concerns a talent from South America.

According to the information Coluna do Fla’s Pablo Rua, both Flamengo’s Wesley and Manchester City have been in talks with the full-back having already ‘liked’ the project put on the table by the recently dethroned Premier League champions.

That lean towards the club’s project is said to have intensified talks in recent days, and Manchester City are now expected to submit an initial opening offer worth €35 million for the 21-year-old in the coming days.

As for possible competition from within the Premier League, it is pointed out that Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in the defender and have already contacted the player’s representatives.

An arrival at Manchester City of a new right-back would naturally throw into doubt the futures of two existing names that have been operating in the role for Pep Guardiola across the majority of the ongoing campaign, and particularly since Kyle Walker’s exit.

Rico Lewis may yet have a future in the attacking midfield role for Guardiola and City, having impressed on numerous occasions particularly in last season’s UEFA Champions League, and most recently in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

As for Matheus Nunes, the Portugal international has already been seemingly ruled out as an option for Pep Guardiola in Manchester City’s midfield, but has shown some promise through his pace and physicality when placed in at right-back.