Manchester City targeting Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez as Monday transfer deadline looms

Manchester City are working to complete the signing of Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez before Monday’s transfer deadline with a view to boosting Pep Guardiola’s faltering midfield. The English champions are yet to reach a breakthrough with Porto in talks that began on Sunday and there is no guarantee that they will be able to secure an agreement before the window closes at 6 p.m. ET.

Gonzalez has a release clause in his contract understood to be worth $61.5 million and City would have the option to simply activate that if they cannot find a breakthrough in talks with Porto. That would require them to pay the lump sum in one go, something which would be within their means but would constitute a serious commitment. Historically City are not a club willing to overpay to add to their squad.

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Equally, City’s midfield evidently needs strengthening after Sunday’s 5-1 demolition at the hands of Arsenal. Gonzalez is a strong, dynamic presence in the center of the park, his five goals and three assists suggesting a player who can make a big contribution in the penalty area as well.

Complicating matters for Porto is the presence of a sell on clause to Barcelona, through whose academy Gonzalez developed before making his senior debut. It is believed that the Portuguese side would be obliged to hand 40 percent of any sale fee to Barcelona, heightening the pressure for them to receive as big a fee as possible.

Amid onfield struggles, City have been notably active in January, adding three players to Guardiola’s squad already for a combined $150 million. Defenders Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Juma Bah have already arrived, the latter joining Lens on loan. Forward Omar Marmoush was also signed from Eintracht Frankfurt.