Etihad Stadium side’s summer spending spree set to continue.
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Manchester City could make a renewed bid for Real Madrid’s £15million-rated defender Pepe as Manuel Pellegrini looks to smash the £100m barrier on new signings according to the Daily Mirror.
New City boss Pellegrini has already taken summer spending out to £92m after fetching four top-class arrivals to the club since the transfer window opened earlier this month. Midfielders Jesus Navas and Fernandinho while attackers Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Joveitc have all passed through the revolving door at the Etihad Stadium.
But Pellegrini still wants to add a quality defender to his squad and Pepe remains his prime target with the former Malaga boss indicating that City have not finished just yet in the transfer market.
“The club has spent money on important players, like Stevan and Negredo,” said Pellegrini.
“But we must remind you that last year here there was Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez.
“So we had to replace two very good players with another two very good players.
“We have the whole month of July and some days of August to finish completely the squad.
“It’s not absolutely complete but it’s very near to being complete.”
The Citizens let centre-back Kolo Toure join Liverpool on a free-transfer and are reportedly eyeing up the 30-year-old Portuguese international, who could leave the Santiago Bernabeu after six years with the club this summer, as the man to replace him.
When asked about the speculation Pellegrini refused to deny any interest in the former Porto man, saying: “I don’t speak about rumours. I think today we have the players that we need here.
“I just said that we will see what happens in this month and during August.
“But I’m not talking about specific names because it’s better for us, so I don’t talk about Pepe or any other names.”