Man City Target Bundesliga & Serie A Centre-Backs as Manuel Pellegrini Looks to Strengthen Defence

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Etihad Stadium boss still keen on spending this summer.

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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly looking to bringing one of Schalke’s Kyriakos Papadopoulos or Napoli skipper Paolo Cannavaro to the Etihad Stadium after giving up his pursuit for Real Madrid defender Pepe according to the Daily Mirror.

Despite spending over £90million on talent this summer, the Citizens still look light in defence with the season days away.

Following the departure of Kolo Toure to Liverpool on a free transfer earlier this summer, Pellegrini has lost Matija Nastasic to an ankle injury for the first month of the season leaving him just Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott as senior options in the centre of defence.

The former Malaga manager will have been disappointed to see his side concede eight goals in their last three pre-season matches and the 59-year-old Chilean has apparently been chasing a new centre-back all summer.

Real Madrid’s Pepe was thought to be Pellegrini’s top defensive target but the Spanish side are refusing to sell the Portuguese international and instead City are searching for other alternatives.

Reported Liverpool summer target Kyriakos Papadopoulos has been identified as a possible option but the 21-year-old Greek international was forced to miss most of last season after undertaking a knee operation in October.

Schalke appear resolute to get value for money if they do cash in on Papadopoulos this summer and sporting director Horst Heldt has claimed: “There are a lot of clubs to take into account.”

While Napoli’s captain is also thought to be on the wish list at the Etihad Stadium as Pellegrini looks to bring in another central defender before the transfer window shuts at the start of September.


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