Manchester City ‘laying groundwork’ for Shakhtar Donetsk signing – Club to consider ‘big transfer fee’ | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly ‘laying the groundwork’ for the potential signing of a breakthrough talent in Ukraine, according to reports.

It is the latest in a long line of attacking midfield profiles that are being linked with a switch to the Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City prepare for longer-term life without the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva.

The former is into the final year of his current Etihad Stadium contract and is believed to be weighing up options in case of a forced exit from the club at the end of the season, whilst Bernardo Silva is continuously eyeing opportunities on warmer shores.

One factor that is likely to significantly change the approach to transfer windows is Manchester City’s alteration in the role of sporting director, with Txiki Begiristain leaving the club after 13 years in the position.

The club are understood to have reached an agreement with Sporting CP’s director of football, Hugo Viana – who is likely to come into the club’s operation from early next year before undertaking a six-month learning phase working alongside Begiristain.

And while that change continues to be worked on between several parties prior to the two clubs’ meeting in the UEFA Champions League in November, the transfer rumour mill continues to spin and now draws City towards the Ukrainian game.

According to the information of Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Manchester City have been ‘laying the groundwork’ to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s rising attacking midfield talent, Georgiy Sudakov.

However, with the Ukraine international currently under contract at Shakhtar Donetsk until the summer of 2028, it is claimed that the Champions League club would demand a ‘big transfer fee’ to consider selling the 22-year-old.

Unfortunately for any club looking to recruit the player imminently, the report says there will be no move in the upcoming January transfer window, with Manchester City standing alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham, Arsenal, and Liverpool in showing interest.

There had been a previous suggestion that Manchester City had allocated some of their scouting officials to a Champions League contest involving Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this month, as they fell to a 0-3 home defeat to Atalanta.

Whilst the Premier League giants will no doubt have been monitoring developments and performances of the Italian club, particularly defensive midfielder Éderson, one report at the time pointed towards the Ukrainian side.

Interestingly, that was in connection to the profile of the aforementioned Georgiy Sudakov, and it appears as though his showing in European competition alongside the season as a whole thus far, has been enough for City to develop their interest further.