La Liga giants Barcelona are considering a move for Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi with Pep Guardiola already targeting Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt as his replacement.
According to The Sun, Ernesto Valverde is keen to add the former Valencia man to his ranks and it is claimed a deal could be agreed at £35million. Guardiola has already identified a long-term replacement though with Dutch sensation De Ligt who is valued at around £50m a serious target.
Otamendi has fallen down the pecking order at the Premier League champions with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones now the preferred partnership in the heart of the City defence.
Otamendi, 30, has managed a mere 10 appearances in the top flight this season and has now been linked with a return to Spain in January.
Bayern Munich are said to be leading the race for De Ligt signature while Barcelona, who earlier this week announced the signing of De Ligt’s team-mate and good friend Frenkie de Jong, are also keen Earlier this week, Guardiola revealed Otamendi, who joined City in 2015 for £28m, was growing frustrated at his lack of game time.
