Manchester City are preparing an offer to sign Leicester City centre-half Caglar Soyuncu amid rival interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, according to Ajansspor.
Pep Guardiola is seriously interested in bringing the Turkish defender to the Etihad Stadium this summer. And Soyuncu, too, is looking forward to a chance to play for Manchester City if given permission to leave Leicester.
The Foxes would demand between €50-60m (£43-51.5m) to release the 25-year-old from his contract at the King Power Stadium. Brendan Rodgers’ side are not against parting with the 38-cap enforcer in the event of a suitable offer as his deal expires in two-years’ time.
Manchester City will face strong competition for Soyuncu as he will gain a vast market with Leicester open to offers. Paris Saint-Germain sought to sign the defender last summer, but he rejected their offer. However, their interest remains while he gains admirers in Spain.
Barcelona and Real Madrid would both like to beat Guardiola to a deal for the Foxes star. Los Blancos view Soyuncu as the ideal replacement for Citizens-linked Sergio Ramos, after the Spanish icon’s contract expired.
Real Madrid would also be ahead of Barcelona in any race as they can afford his wage demands, while the Catalan outfit continue to come to terms with their difficult financial situation. But no bid from either La Liga giant, or PSG, is currently in the works.
Manchester City also hold an additional advantage for Soyuncu, as the Leicester gem is a close friend of Ilkay Gundogan. The German also called for the Etihad Stadium outfit to pursue the Turkish talent last summer before signing Ruben Dias.
Gundogan wanted Leicester defender Soyuncu at Manchester City
Gundogan told Fanatik last June that Soyuncu would be the first Turkish player he would urge Manchester City to sign. He continued to praise the Leicester man further, too, by claiming he was the best Premier League centre-back after Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
“Soyuncu gave the best performance in the Premier League after Van Dijk in defence [during 2019/20],” Gundogan said. He then added: “I love him. His sense of football and his character are also very good.
“His performance in both Leicester and the national team is good. Hopefully we’ll see better places. The first thing that comes to my mind about the Turkish player I want to see in Manchester City is Caglar.”
Manchester City could now unite Gundogan with the Leicester player he loves by beating Real Madrid to signing Soyuncu. The Foxes kept five clean sheets over the £45,000-per-week defender’s 23 appearances, starting 19, in the Premier League last season.
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