Manchester City chasing Real Madrid's Danilo

Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Danilo celebrates after scoring in a Primera Division match. Photo: EPA/Emilio Naranjo

Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Danilo celebrates after scoring in a Primera Division match. Photo: EPA/Emilio Naranjo

Published Jul 20, 2017

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HOUSTON, United States - Manchester City are ready to take their summer spending to £80million on right backs alone by signing Danilo from Real Madrid. 

City have moved for the 26-year-old Brazil international less than a week after paying £54m for Tottenham defender Kyle Walker.

Pep Guardiola wants two new signings in that position and had lined up Dani Alves on a free transfer before the former Barcelona player opted for Paris Saint-Germain instead.

Danilo will cost City £26.5m although they could yet face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea who are understood to have made a similar offer.

The Brazilian, who can also play on the left, has struggled to win a starting place at Madrid due to the form of Dani Carvajal.

Speaking ahead of the Manchester derby in Houston in the early hours of tomorrow morning, Guardiola said: "Danilo’s one option that we have. He’s a Real Madrid player. Until the deal is done, out of respect for other clubs I cannot say anything. We are talking with three or four players to try to join us. Not only for next season, but for the next three to five years."

Signing Danilo would take City’s spending beyond the £150m mark this summer following the arrival of Ederson Moraes, Bernardo Silva and Walker.

Several more signings are expected with Guardiola refusing to give up on Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez and certain to land a left back. City remain in talks with Monaco over a £40m deal for Benjamin Mendy, although a move for Ryan Bertrand looks unlikely with Southampton reluctant to sell.

Guardiola insisted that striker Sergio Aguero and No 2 goalkeeper Claudio Bravo will remain at the Etihad next season despite speculation they could leave.

City’s game against United in the NRG Stadium will be the first Manchester derby on foreign soil after last summer’s planned meeting between the two clubs in Beijing was scrapped due to the state of the pitch.

It has emerged that City fans will have to subscribe to MUTV if they want to watch the game because United’s in-house television station is the only rights holder in the UK and Ireland.

Daily Mail

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