Manchester City to battle Chelsea for AS Monaco midfielder signing - Report

AS Monaco have certainly drawn gasps from many around the world with a stunning season so far, averaging 2.9 goals per match. This in turn has brought headlines linking their brightest stars to top clubs across Europe.

Manchester City will face the dangerous French side in the Champions League Round of 16 and Pep Guardiola will be sure to keep his eyes on a few of the opposition’s players. Most recently, the Sky Blues have been linked with their defensive midfielder Tiémoué Bakayoko. The 22-year-old has played a key role in his side’s success this season.

This transfer could be an exciting one should the French U-21 international decide to pack his bags and move to the Etihad. Bakayoko is known for his strength in tackling and making crucial interceptions, two ingredients that make for a world-class defensive midfielder. He also excels as a passer in a deeper position, with a pass completion rate absolutely inspiring at almost 88%.

Many will wonder if Bakayoko can fill the hole left by the upcoming exit of aging City legend Yaya Touré, a feat that would be difficult for any player. Despite the pressure of replacing a legend, Bakayoko appears to be a perfect fit for the role.

Monaco will almost certainly attempt to retain all of their jaw-dropping talent, so City must put a relatively high offer on the table to get the club officials’ mouths watering in temptation. French paper Le10sport has proposed that a figure around £25.5 million would likely push the transfer through to contract negotiations.

Reports from Metro have also stated that Bakayoko has recently rejected an approach from his current club to extend his contract, filling other teams with an enormous sense of hope.

City supporters should be excited by these rumors as Bakayoko would gel fantastically into Pep Guardiola’s renovated City side. Time will tell whether the manager is truly interested in handing the young midfielder a spot in the team.