Man City ‘plot huge Jamal Musiala transfer bid as Pep Guardiola draws up three-man shortlist’
MANCHESTER CITY are eager to sign Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala this summer, according to reports.
The reigning Premier League champions will look to strengthen once again this summer, after not being fully satisfied with last year’s business.
City lost key men Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez last summer, while they also decided to let Cole Palmer leave to join Chelsea.
New recruit Matheus Nunes has not made an impact since joining from Wolves, while Jeremy Doku still has a way to go.
According to The Guardian, City will make a “big push” to sign Musiala this summer.
They add that City’s interest is “advanced” and that the Bayern ace, 21, is becoming their top target.
Musiala left Chelsea’s academy aged 16 to join Bayern Munich in 2019.
He has since gone on to become a key man in Bavaria, helping them to four Bundesliga titles and a Club World Cup.
With Bayern having lost their crown to Bayer Leverkusen this term, Musiala may feel that now is the time to leave.
The Germany international, who represented England at youth level, has two years remaining on his contract.
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Should he indicate that he would like to leave Bayern he is set to receive plenty of interest, with Chelsea also remaining keen on their former Cobham starlet.
If Musiala proves to be unattainable, City have a pair of fall-back options ready, with Pep Guardiola desperate for new attacking reinforcements.
They retain their previous interest in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, despite concerns over his injury history.
While West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta is also still on their radar, although any move would hinge on the outcome of an FA investigation into alleged betting breaches by the midfielder, which he denies.
‘This guy has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or’
Pundit Rio Ferdinand has previously gushed over Musiala, calling him a “potential Ballon d’Or winner”.
The TNT Sports star said: “He’s a fabulous footballer. In a world where we talk about stats and data, he ticks that box, but it’s on the eye test where he comes alive; the way he receives the ball, he’s elusive, he rides a tackle and gets through traffic with HD.
“He’s a fantastic footballer. I think the highest compliment I can give him is that I don’t know where his ceiling is.
“Most players even at 20/22 years old, you go ‘I think they are going to get to this level and that’s them.’
“This guy has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or.
“I’ve said it before, he has the potential to do that if the path goes the right way for him and he’s in a successful team. That’s the platform and foundation for that.”
