Manchester City is currently investigating the possibility of securing a transaction valued at £43.5 million. A Juventus representative encounters a challenge as Pep Guardiola faces a transfer impediment.

Manchester City is currently investigating the possibility of securing a transaction valued at £43.5 million.

 

 

A Juventus representative encounters a challenge as Pep Guardiola faces a transfer impediment.Manchester City are purportedly considering a reunion with former midfielder Douglas Luiz as they scope out potential midfield additions for the second half of the season.

 

 

 

The pivotal player for Juventus was registered with Manchester City from 2017 to 2019; however, he was never afforded the opportunity to demonstrate his value to Pep Guardiola, who ultimately approved his transfer to Aston Villa in 2019.

 

 

 

Luis currently bound by a contract with the Bianconeri for an additional four-and-a-half years; however, as reported by The Athletic, Manchester City is now deliberating the possibility of re-acquiring him for a return to the Etihad.

 

 

The report asserts that the Premier League champions are interested in acquiring the South American player solely on a loan basis until the conclusion of the season, without any provision or requirement to finalise the transfer permanently.

 

 

 

Nevertheless, those conditions will not meet the approval of Juventus, who are disinclined to permit Luiz to depart on a temporary basis. Instead, they prefer to effectuate an explicit sale this month or to stipulate the inclusion of an obligation to purchase in any agreement.

 

 

 

Given that Manchester City seemingly has no inclination towards such a transfer, Luiz would require Juventus to reconsider their demands in order to facilitate his return to the Premier League, where he previously made 175 appearances for Aston Villa. The former Vasco da Gama youth player is reportedly not the sole midfield target on

 

 

Manchester City’s agenda; the club is actively ‘exploring multiple options’ to strengthen their midfield in the forthcoming months. Nevertheless, Luiz flourished in the West Midlands, cultivating a reputation as one of the premier players in his position within the top tier and facilitating a transfer to Juventus for £43.5 million during the summer transfer window.

 

 

 

The 26-year-old has yet to establish his presence in Turin, having not recorded a goal or an assist in 16 appearances across all competitions, and having started only three matches in Serie A for Thiago Motta’s team. Luiz has accumulated a mere 49 minutes of playing time across three substitute appearances in the Champions League.

 

 

 

His participation has been further hindered by muscular ailments, which have resulted in his absence from 11 matches in all competitions to date. Manchester City is currently evaluating a variety of alternatives for the acquisition of a midfielder.

 

 

 

Manchester City is gradually, yet steadily, beginning to regain their former prowess, as evidenced by their resounding 6-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Sunday. However, their aspirations for a fifth consecutive Premier League title appear to be all but extinguished.

 

 

 

The unexpected decline of the Citizens during the autumn season coincided with a significant knee injury sustained by Ballon d’Or recipient Rodri, who is now engaged in a race against time to return before the conclusion of the season.

 

 

 

His absence has deprived Guardiola of what is arguably his most pivotal player. Ilkay Gundogan – one of just two new arrivals in the summer alongside Brazilian attacker Savinho – has struggled to re-adapt to the Premier League, while Mateo Kovacic has also missed a few matches through injury this season.

 

 

Re-signing Luiz or acquiring an alternative midfielder would perpetuate Manchester City’s substantial winter expenditure, as the club is nearing agreements for Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, and Vitor Reis.

 

 

 

The Sky Blues have also been rumoured to submit a proposal amounting to £54.7 million for Andrea Cambiaso, a teammate of Luiz at Juventus. Additionally, they have recently secured Erling Haaland with an extraordinary contract extension lasting nine and a half years.