Etihad Stadium side keen on Fluminense forward.
Check in to Transfer Window: Done Deal Alerts
Manchester City are seriously debating whether or not to make a move for Fluminense striker Fred, if they are unsuccessful with a bid to sign Napoli forward Edinson Cavani, according to the Daily Mirror.
Fred, 29, captured the hearts of the Brazilian crowd at the recent Confederations Cup where his heroic performances netted him five goals, joint most with Spain’s Fernando Torres, whose stats are slightly skewed due to the four he scored against part-timers Tahiti.
Manchester City failed to replicate their attacking flair and finishing prowess last season following their title-winning 2011/12 campaign, falling behind Manchester United, and see Fred as the ideal signing to help boost the teams goal return.
After selling Carlos Tevez to Italian giants Juventus earlier this summer, and the uncertainty surrounding the future of Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko at the club, new manager Manuel Pellegrini is looking to re-tool his attacking options ahead of the new season.
Having already brought in Sevilla winger Jesus Navas to rejuvenate City’s flagging forward line, and the potential addition of Fred adds a physical presence to what appears an intimidating attacking core.
With 18 months left to run on his current contract, Fred admits he would be interested if an offer came in. “I am doing great at Fluminense and I will only leave if there is a really great offer”. According to reports, Fred has a release clause in his current contract of £1.7million, but is not expected to leave Brazil before the upcoming World Cup.
City’s interested in Fred relies upon their failure to sign Edinson Cavani from Napoli this summer. With a release clause in excess of £50million pounds, the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United are reluctant to meet their asking price for the Uruguayan.