Italy international Manuel Locatelli deserves to join a ‘great club’ such as Manchester City or Juventus, Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali told Tuttomercatoweb.
With the vast majority of Premier League clubs opting to keep their powder dry until the summer, it never felt likely that Locatelli would become one of the big deadline-day stories in the final few hours of the winter window.
And, sure enough, the former AC Milan youngster was conspicuous by his absence from the Sky Sports vidiprinter as one of the most uneventful windows in recent memories ambled towards the 11:00pm deadline.
But you can expect to hear a lot more about Locatelli when 2020/21 comes to an end.
The Mail reports that Manchester City have identified the £30 million play-maker as their top midfield target; claims backed up by Locatelli’s agent.
While Sassuolo have managed to ward off interest in the likes of Jeremie Boga, Domenico Berardi and Gianluca Scamacca of late, there appears to be an acceptance that Locatelli’s future lies away from the Mapei Stadium.
“My wish is that (Locatelli joins) a great club: whether it is Juve or City or others of global value, I don’t know. He deserves it and has the characteristics to aspire to it,” Carnevali explained.
A deep-lying, ball-playing central midfielder, Locatelli could act as a long-term replacement for the 35-year-old Fernandinho at the Etihad Stadium.
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