Manchester City have had a £36m bid for Juventus centre back Leonardo Bonucci, 29, rejected but are prepared to go higher to land their man.
Juventus are reluctant sellers but know that their defensive trio of Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, 35, and Giorgio Chiellini, 31, will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.
Bonucci played a starring role for his country in this summer’s Euro 2016 where Italy reached the quarter-finals. Widely praised for his defensive work, he showed an impressive range of passing as the Azzurri outplayed pre-tournament favourites, Belgium and Spain, before losing to Germany in a penalty shootout.
New City boss Pep Guardiola has major reservations about the defence he has inherited with the long-term fitness of captain, Vincent Kompany, 30, providing cause for serious concern. The Belgian has missed large tranches of the last two seasons with injury which have hampered the club’s title challenges.
Bonucci, with the experience of trophy-laden years in Turin, has the technique that Guardiola values so highly. Whilst the Spaniard has not ruled out keeping Eliaquim Mangala, 25, the French international suffered a worrying dip in form in the second half of last season.
Signing a centre back of Bonucci’s quality would go some way to solving those problems.
Read all transfer ins and outs, completed deals visit football transfer news.
