Manchester City in talks over signing Benfica centre-half Ruben Dias
Manchester City are in talks about signing the Portugal centre-half, Ruben Dias, from Benfica in a deal that is likely to involve Nicolas Otamendi moving in the opposite direction.
After the capture of Nathan Ake last month, Pep Guardiola remains determined to add another central defender to his squad before the close of the transfer window on Oct. 5.
City have looked at deals for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Jose Gimenez of Atletico Madrid and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde but have been reluctant to pay some of the fees being floated this summer.
Atletico claimed this week that City had a £78m bid for Gimenez but that was rubbished by well placed City sources who insisted they had no intention of parting with such a fee.
Dias, 23, is one of a number of centre halves who have been on City’s radar for some time and City are now hopeful of striking a deal for the Portugal international.
Otamendi, a key figure in Guardiola’s first title winning season, seems likely to move to Benfica in return in a package valued at more than €55 million (£50m). Benfica are thought to be holding out for about €65m (£59m).
Guardiola is keen to establish a settled centre half partnership this season. Dias would face competition from Ake, John Stones and possibly Eric Garcia for a place along Aymeric Laporte.
Garcia is wanted by Barcelona but City are holding out for around £30m for the Spain defender and are prepared to lose him for nothing when his contract expires next summer if their valuation is not met.
Meanwhile Manchester City’s injury crisis has deepened after Gabriel Jesus withdrew from the Brazil squad and will miss his country’s fixtures next month.
Jesus, 23, played in all of City’s victory at Wolves on Monday but the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have confirmed he is set for a spell on the sidelines.
They have ruled him out of matches against Bolivia and Peru on Oct 9 and 13, meaning he is set to miss City’s Premier League clash with Leicester at the weekend, their Carabao Cup tie at Burnley next Wednesday and the game at Leeds on the eve of the international break.
