Manchester City are considering a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, it has been claimed.
According to Mail Sport, City are weighing up a move for the one cap England international after a deal to land Lucas Paqueta collapsed late last week.
The Palace midfielder has reportedly been on City’s radar for the last six months with senior scouts having been left heavily impressed by his control of games for the south Londoners.
City are still looking for a midfielder upon the betting allegations levelled at Paqueta, who had been set to leave West Ham United for a fee in the region of £85million.
Eze, who won his first England cap back in June, has reportedly attracted interest from across the Premier League, after his stellar form under Roy Hodgson at the end of last season. Indeed, Liverpool are among those that have been linked with the Palace star in the past few months.And according to Sport Mail, City have insisted all simmer that they have merely retained a watching brief of the 25-year-old. Indeed, it remains to be seen whether the Paqueta development will see the Treble winners formalise interest in the player.
Having retained the service of Michael Olise last week despite interest from Chelsea, Palace are reportedly expected to demand north of £70million from any potential suitors for Eze, with the summer window set to shut next week.
However a bid would test Palace's resolve, with the player having just two years remaining on his deal. Eagles chairman Steve Parish told Sky Sports upon Olise's contract renewal that it would take an "extraordinary offer" to persuade them to sell any existing players.Pep Guardiola's side are without Kevin De Bruyne until the new year through injury, with club eager for another body.
Mateo Kovacic, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez and James McAtee can all play in the two spots behind Erling Haaland.
City had been on the hunt for an Ilkay Gundogan replacement even before De Bruyne’s injury.
The Athletic's David Ornstein added that City are also exploring a deal to sign Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Nunes played 41 games for the Molineux club last season, with Wolves unlikely to welcome City’s interest so close to the summer market closing.
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