Man City transfer news: Mahrez, Jorginho, Sandro, Hart

Leicester star signs for club record £60m,
but a deal for Napoli midfield general could be in jeopardy

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The 27-year-old put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the
Etihad Stadium after undergoing a medical. He will wear the same
number 26 jersey he had at Leicester.

The Algerian, who had been linked with a move to City for
months, said he was excited by the challenge and was looking
forward to playing under Pep Guardiola.

“City’s
performances last season were outstanding,”
he said. “They’re redefining the English game and
I wanted to be a part of it. I think we can be successful over the
coming years and I believe my own game can develop under Pep’s
management.”

“Guardiola wanted Mahrez from Leicester City in January but was
willing to wait until the summer after a refusal to match the
Foxes’ valuation,” reports the Daily Mail. 

“Mahrez was granted a leave of absence from Leicester’s training
camp in France over the weekend and underwent a medical in Wilmslow
on Tuesday afternoon.”

The player will join City on their pre-season tour of the US and
is expected to take part in pre-season training today, says the
Manchester Evening News. 

Chelsea hijack Jorginho deal

Guardiola may have Mahrez on board but his hopes of signing
midfield general Jorginho could be under threat after Chelsea
joined the race for the Brazil-born Italian.

City have been chasing a deal for Napoli star since the end of
last season, reports the Daily Express. 

But the paper adds: “While City are said to have agreed personal
terms with Jorginho, with the 26-year-old said to be keen on a
move, the two clubs have struggled to agree over a fee… And the
failure to reach any middle ground is set to see Chelsea swoop in
and try to seal a deal with N’Golo Kante reportedly Paris
Saint-Germain’s top summer target.”

Chelsea’s hand is strengthened by rumours that they are about to
appoint former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as Antonio Conte’s
replacement.

City join Sandro race?

Shock reports in Italy suggest that Man City have entered the
race to sign Brazilian left back Alex Sandro from Juventus, says
website Sport Witness. 

The reason? City want another full back to “complement Benjamin
Mendy and allow for rotation”.

“Guardiola was forced to improvise with the likes of Oleksandr
Zinchenko and Fabian Delph last season when the France
international got injured, and it would seem he isn’t planning on
running that risk again.”

The 27-year-old is also wanted by Paris Saint-Germain,
Manchester United and Chelsea and could command a fee of €40m
(£35.3m).

Hart in Birmingham link

Remember Joe Hart? The former England gloveman has been out of
favour since Guardiola arrived at the Etihad and spent the past two
seasons out on loan. Now it seems City are seeking to get rid of
him for good, and Birmingham City are said to be in with a chance
of signing him.

The Midlands club’s goalkeeper hunt “has seen them placed among
the favourites for an incredible swoop”, says the Birmingham Mail. 

Hart spent the 2009/10 season on loan at Birmingham “and eight
years on, the bookies think he could make an unlikely return”.

The keeper has returned from a loan at West Ham “but is expected
to leave this summer in search of first-team football”, says the
paper.

“Blues are in the market for a new goalkeeper this summer with
manager Garry Monk having told both senior options David Stockdale
and Tomasz Kuszczak they can leave.”

Barcelona starlet joins City

Teenage striker Adria Bernabe has confirmed his move to City on
Instagram, reports website This Is Futbol.

“The 17-year-old attacker has updated his display picture to
himself in a Man City shirt and also changed his Instagram bio,
which states that he’s now a Manchester City player after exiting
La Liga giants Barca.

“The former Barcelona player joins an academy that has produced
talents such as Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz, Manu Garcia, Kelechi
Iheanacho and Angus Gunn in recent seasons.”