Manchester City look to be closing in on a deal for Claudio Bravo with Barcelona, according to the Evening News. The Chilean seems to be City’s new first-choice goalkeeping target, having failed in an attempt to sign Marc-Andre Ter Stegen from the same club, and could finalise the move within days.
Concern has remained over Joe Hart’s ability to use his feet, and despite him working to improve it, Pep Guardiola appears to have gone back out into the transfer market to find a replacement. The Englishman sat out the season opener against Sunderland with Willy Caballero taking his place in the side, and he could now depart the Etihad before the summer is out.
Pep is thought to want more of a sweeper keeper, someone more comfortable on the ball than Hart is, and Barcelona’s Bravo fits this mould. The MEN believe that City are close to completing negotiations with Barcelona for him, although may allow the 33-year-old to stay in Catalonia for a few days more.
This is due to Spanish Super Cup participation, and City could delay the transfer to let Bravo stay and cover for the injured Ter Stegen. The second leg of the competition is on Wednesday, and Barcelona may be reluctant to let the Chile international leave before then. It is too late for Bravo to be registered in the City squad for the Steaua Bucuresti tie, but there may still be time to register him for the league visit to Stoke next Saturday, depending on how quickly a move is completed.
The Blues look to be set to complete the move for a fee of €21 million (£18.1 million), a much lower price than the £67 million demanded by Barcelona for second-choice Ter Stegen. The Evening News says that Barça have decided to let Bravo leave due to the German youngster getting restless, and view it as vital to keep him rather than someone nearly a decade older.
If a deal is done for former Real Sociedad player Bravo, he will become City’s ninth signing of the summer, and the first from the Nou Camp since Yaya Toure six years ago.
