Pep Guardiola 'misses out' on £25m Rodri cover as Joao Cancelo Man City exit route emerges
The latest transfer news and rumours from Manchester City involving Rodri, Joao Cancelo and Sander Berge.
Manchester City were considering a swoop for Manchester United target Sander Berge this summer.
That's according to journalist Duncan Castles, who made that revelation on his latest The Transfers Podcast outing, with the Burnley man subject to high-profile recommendation at the Etihad Stadium before his eventual £25million transfer to Fulham instead. It's said that Vincent Kompany and Erling Haaland gave Berge glowing reviews.
Kompany managed the 26-year-old midfielder at Burnley, while City frontman Haaland is Berge's teammate for the Norway national team. United were monitoring Berge as an alternative to Manuel Ugarte.
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However, as per Castles, the 46-cap midfielder might have even signed for the Premier League champions instead. His signature cost Fulham around £25million with add-ons and that moved was confirmed this week.
Berge was, seemingly, being tracked as cover for Rodri as City's main defensive shield. However, as it all played out, the Blues completed a sensational return move for Ilkay Gundogan instead.
Gundogan was allowed to leave Barcelona on a free transfer - despite only signing for the Catalan giants from City last summer - which effectively put an end to the midfield search. The 33-year-old has formally returned to the club, while he could even make his second City debut against Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon.
Elsewhere, reports from Mundo Deportivo reckon Barcelona are 'seriously' considering a return swoop for Portugal international Joao Cancelo this summer. The full-back spent last season on loan at the Camp Nou.
Cancelo, 30, is training with City, but faces an uncertain future with the Premier League champions. When chatting to the media before his his star-studded side's opener with Chelsea last Sunday afternoon, Guardiola claimed there have been no formal offers for the former Juventus defender.
He remains under contract at City until 2027. Cancelo is thought to be Barcelona's pre-deadline priority.
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