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Executives at the Etihad Stadium can sign Sporting Lisbon defender Ivan Fresneda for a cut-price fee in the summer, as per reports from Portugal.
Manchester City are expected to progress on their squad rebuild in the upcoming transfer window with the addition of a natural right-back, having alleviated their long-standing issues at left-back with the £31 million signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves in 2025.
Matheus Nunes has exceeded expectations as a makeshift right-back this term and despite being a natural midfielder, the 27-year-old Portugal international has been one of Manchester City’s best and most consistent performers in their premier season under director of football Hugo Viana.
City remain in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple as they hunt down Premier League leaders Arsenal and vie for successful cup runs on all fronts, having already set up a Carabao Cup final date with Arsenal for Wembley on March 22.
The January transfer window saw club officials bolster Pep Guardiola’s depleted first-team ranks with the crucial additions of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace respectively for a combined £84 million.
Semenyo and Guehi have seamlessly adapted to life at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City look to build on a run of five consecutive wins into the business end of the season, having put Arsenal under real pressure of losing their hold of the Premier League’s top spot.
Guardiola’s future at City has come under speculation in recent months amid a growing belief in Premier League circle, as cited by English media, that this could well be the 55-year-old’s final season at the Etihad Stadium, despite him being under contract till 2027.
Manchester City are expected to prioritise the signing of a central midfielder this summer amid strong interest in Nottingham Forest and England star Elliot Anderson, who is expected to receive widespread interest as he prepares to represent the Three Lions at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
A Bola in Portugal are reporting that Manchester City, Newcastle United and Arsenal are monitoring Sporting Lisbon right-back Ivan Fresneda ahead of the summer transfer window, as relayed by Sport Witness.
The report states that the aforementioned trio of English clubs have been informed by Sporting that they are willing to consider offers below the 21-year-old’s £69 million release clause as they look to cash in on one of their rising stars ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Sporting Lisbon are yet to receive formal offers for Fresneda, who joined the Portuguese outfit for £7.8 million from Real Valladolid in 2023 and has established himself as one of the best young full-backs in Europe since.
Manchester City are highly unlikely to enter a bidding war for a transfer target but club executives will no doubt be taking note of how Fresneda’s situation develops as the summer transfer window approaches.