Transfer news: Manchester City’s plan to sign Koulibaly involves Eric Garcia

Pep Guardiola is determined to bolster his defensive options this summer.

Manchester City are eager to offer Eric Garcia in a part-exchange deal to sign Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. The Senegalese centre-back has been a prime target to reinforce the defence for Pep Guardiola.

Kalidou Kouilibay, 29, has been ranked among the best central defenders in the world. In recent years, the Senegal international has garnered interest from a host of European heavyweights, namely Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City among others.

The move away from Napoli, however, has not yet materialised for Koulibaly due to the exorbitant price tag of around €100 million slapped on his back by club president Aurelio De Laurentiis. Citing a need for an injection of funds to balance the accounts, the Azzurri are willing to let go of the defensive stalwart for a cut-price around €70m.

As things stand, Manchester City are in pole position to secure the services of the Naples defender, ahead of Man United, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain. The Sky Blues chiefs are in constant dialogues to reach an agreement over the transfer fees, having offered around €63m initially.

In a bid to reduce the fees paid upfront, City bosses are keen to include wantaway defender Eric Garcia as a potential makeweight. However, it would revolve around the desire of the Catalan youngster who has his heart set on a move back to Barcelona.

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"Napoli continue to look for a potential replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly on the transfer market. The new profile being evaluated is Eric Garcia, the Manchester City Spanish center back born in 2001.As a matter a fact, the Citizens could use the former Barcelona youth team player in the deal to acquire Koulibaly. (Gianluca Di Marzio)"

Napoli, preparing for life after Kalidou Koulibaly, are searching for centre-backs to feature alongside Kostas Manolas next season. Having agreed to a deal to sign Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille, the move did not materialise as the Brazilian decided against waiting till the Azzurri sold Koulibaly.

Pep Guardiola could attain his biggest achievement at City should his paymasters manage to lure Lionel Messi from Barcelona. As per developments, the Sky Blues are making the right moves in a bid to convince the Argentine to join the project under his previous mentor.

There could be a fair amount of transactions held between Barcelona and Man City with both clubs having an interest in attaining players from opposite factions.

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