“Manchester City have not returned” – Agency source issues centre-back transfer update on player Inter Milan and Barcelona want | OneFootball

Inter Milan and Barcelona may have been handed a significant boost in their hopes of signing one of European football’s most exciting central defensive talents.

That comes as a direct result of Manchester City, and the Premier League champions’ failure to follow up on initial interest in AIK Freetong’s loaned out centre-back talent, Juma Bah this month.

Etihad Stadium bosses are believed to be on the look out for defensive reinforcement this month, following a first-half to a campaign that has seen Pep Guardiola’s options decimated by injury and fitness issues.

At one stage, the Manchester City manager had to compete without any of his four mainstay central defenders being fully-fit, opening a pathway for Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to emerge from the club’s Academy system and impress.

Whilst the teenage defender did very little wrong, City remain on the look-out for centre-backs with greater experience at the top-level of the game, whilst also having plenty of years to develop upon joining the club.

But one name appears to now be out of the running.

Speaking to Africa Foot, a source close to Juma Bah’s representative agency, Global Soccer Management has stated that despite initial contact and interest, Manchester City have not followed up and as such have handed Inter Milan in particular an advantage.

“At the moment, Inter have shown the most interest and are moving forward quickly, and are also willing to pay the asking price of €15 million, as they believe the fee could multiply by June,” the source explained, as translated by Sport Witness.

They continued, “Manchester City have not returned since their first contact, Barcelona have not yet made it official, so for the moment, it is Inter who seems the most likely destination for Juma Bah.”

Manchester City remain increasingly interested in the potential signing of Lens and Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, facing competition from the likes of Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Real Madrid.

The current feeling is that it would require a transfer fee north of £25 million to tempt the French club into a sale, despite the Ligue 1 side needing to raise funds during the ongoing window given their financial situation.

Super agent Jorge Mendes, who has a strong relationship with Manchester City, has been handed a mandate by Lens to find a suitable proposal for Khusanov and as such finalise a move for the 20-year-old in the coming days and weeks.