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da betsson： According to TEAMtalk, Manchester City are interested in rivalling Manchester United and other European giants to the signing of Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld, who has a release clause of just £25m.
What’s the word, then?
Well the aforementioned report reveals that the Cityzens are considering a swoop for the Belgian international, with Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona also keeping tabs on the situation.
The reigning Premier League champions are keen to find a long-term partner for the outstanding Aymeric Laporte, as all three of John Stones, Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi have failed to show enough to prove they can fulfil the role.
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Club captain Kompany can only play a certain amount of games due to his waning fitness levels, and with Stones and Otamendi both inconsistent in their form, there is space for another defender.
Where does this leave Stones?
A player who has been heralded by Guardiola in the past and is clearly highly-rated by the Spaniard, Stones has found game time hard to come by of late and has started just 20 of the Citizens’ 34 league games this season.
According to The Mirror, the England international is frustrated at his lack of playing time, despite reports that he is set to be offered a contract extension.
The same article reveals that Guardiola believes Stones will eventually forge a partnership with Laporte at centre-back, but if Alderweireld is brought in and played ahead of him – which seems likely or else the decision to sign him would be a strange one – the former Barnsley defender may become even more frustrated.
Would he want to wait until the 30-year-old is done and dusted after already having to bide his time for a consistent spot in the first team?
It is unlikely that signing the former Ajax man would force Stones out of the exit door completely, but given the fact that he is already reportedly frustrated, Alderweireld’s arrival could seriously damage his morale.