Manchester City are willing to offer €70 million to acquire Federico Valverde in January, though Real Madrid are unlikely to allow his departure.
As reported by *Caught Offside*, Manchester City are set to submit a €70 million bid for the 26-year-old midfielder in January. Due to issues in Pep Guardiola’s midfield following Rodri’s injury, the Premier League champions are exploring alternative options. However, should Valverde become available, they are expected to pursue him aggressively.
**Manchester City’s Midfield Dilemma**
Manchester City’s poor run of form continued, with their fourth straight defeat in all competitions, marking a first such streak in Guardiola’s distinguished managerial career. Their latest loss came against Brighton & Hove Albion, leaving them five points behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
The primary issue has been their midfield, with Rodri out for the season, forcing Guardiola to search for solutions. The upcoming January transfer window could offer an opportunity to address these gaps, with several potential targets on City’s radar.
City were reportedly told to pay €45 million for Hakan Calhanoglu, as the Turkish midfielder could potentially fit their needs as a Rodri replacement. However, Guardiola is also looking at other options, such as Martin Zubimendi, who serves as Rodri’s backup for Spain.
Samuele Ricci is another name under consideration, with a move potentially happening before the January window opens. Yet, among these candidates, Federico Valverde stands out, with Manchester City showing strong interest in the Real Madrid star.
**Challenges in Acquiring Federico Valverde**
The report claims that Manchester City are prepared to offer €70 million for the versatile midfielder in January. However, Real Madrid regard Valverde as a pivotal figure in their squad and have no intention of entertaining a sale at that price. If they were to consider parting ways with him, it would only be for a significantly higher fee, given his €1 billion release clause.
Furthermore, Real Madrid themselves are navigating challenges, meaning they have little incentive to sell Valverde, especially during the mid-season transfer window. As a result, the likelihood of the Uruguayan leaving Madrid in January is slim, even if City makes their €70 million offer.
