‘Man City will be at negotiating table to sign Bundesliga sensation’
Man City are plotting a major overhaul of their squad in the summer transfer window with a number of elite players emerging on their radar.
Having spent £180million on the arrivals of Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez in January, Pep Guardiola remains keen to add to his squad.
Concerns about the number of ageing or injured players in his side, including the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and John Stones, have forced their attention towards the transfer market.
As a result, Football Insider revealed Man City have five big-name signings lined up and are prepared to spend big come the end of the season.
Now, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that they have entered the race to sign Borussia Dortmund star Jamie Gittens.
The winger left City’s academy in 2020 in search of a clearer pathway into first-team football, and has since made 94 senior appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
More recently, Football Insider revealed in January that the 20-year-old Gittens is keen to return to England amid interest from Chelsea to test himself in the Premier League.
Man City to rival Liverpool move for Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens
Football Insider revealed on 10 February that Liverpool scouts have been watching Gittens and are prepared to rival the likes of Chelsea for his signature.
However, City are keen to explore a potential return for their former academy man and will rival other Premier League giants’ interest.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Robinson explained that Gittens’ eventual destination could be decided based on promises of first-team football, casting doubt over the potential move to the Etihad.
“There’s going to be more at the table than just Man City,” he told Football Insider.
“At 20 years old, the experience he’s got this year at Dortmund is going to put him in good stead.
“I’m not sure that Manchester City would be the right move for him, because where would he play?
“You look at their squad, look at the rotation Pep uses and the competitions they’ll be in.
“Yeah, there’s going to be opportunities for him to play, but would he play every week?
“The opportunity he’s had at Dortmund and the levels that he’s hit while he’s had a taste of first-team football, he’ll want to keep that up.
“When you got to a big club, you’re not guaranteed to start games.
”He’s contracted at Dortmund until 2028, so I wouldn’t expect him to move unless the club are willing to move him on and bring in a fee for him.
“The potential for the move is there, it’s a path that’s well-trodden from the Bundesliga back to the Premier League, especially for a young, English player.
“There’s a move there, but for him I’d be wary of going from playing every week in a side where he’s clearly enjoying his football.
“Is he ready to come into the Premier League?
“There are a lot of clubs preparing to rebuild for next season where he might see more of an opportunity to play regular football than he would at Man City.”
Pep Guardiola to cash in on James McAtee in squad overhaul
Guardiola and his recruitment team have been working behind the scenes as they are keen to add to the Man City squad after a disappointing season across all competitions.
However, alongside the focus on strengthening their options, a number of players have been linked to moves away from the Etihad in a squad-wide overhaul.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider on 1 March that Man City plan to accept offers for James McAtee
This comes amid questions over the futures of the likes of Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne, amid interest from MLS outfit San Diego FC.
For more Man City and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.