- Manchester City linked with another midfielder
- European giants reportedly monitoring Porto star
- Pep Guardiola continues midfield rebuild plans
Manchester City are among the clubs showing strong interest in one of European football’s most highly-rated midfielders ahead of the summer transfer window.
With Bernardo Silva leaving and Rodri rumoured for an exit, Pep Guardiola has to decide his midfield targets before the summer transfer window.
Elliot Anderson remains top of the priority list with Manchester United set to drop out of the race. However, the Sky Blues are also planning on backups if the Anderson deal fails to materialise.
Nevertheless, Portugal has always been an underrated market, and Guardiola’s side are now monitoring options in Liga Portugal.
Manchester City join race for Alan Varela
According to reports from Sports Boom, Man City are interested in FC Porto’s Alan Varela. The Argentine midfielder continues to attract interest from top European sides following his arrival from Boca Juniors.
He signed for Porto in 2023 and has since been developing rapidly in the Portuguese top flight. Varela has created 18 chances and made 95 defensive contributions in 25 starts for Porto this season.
The midfielder is an integral part of Francesco Farioli’s plans. Hence, the Portuguese side has set the midfielder’s price at £65m.
Manchester United and Atletico Madrid are also interested
As rivals Manchester United are planning on dropping out of the Elliot Anderson race, the Red Devils are looking for a cheaper option in the market.
United were overwhelmed by Anderson’s £120m price tag, deciding it was too much for the midfielder. Now, with Casemiro set to leave this summer, Varela has emerged as an affordable option for the Red Devils.
Athletico Madrid are also in the race, with Diego Simeone planning on a cash plus player swap. However, Porto isn’t keen, and the Portuguese side would like cash only for Varela.
Boca Juniors hold a 20 per cent sell-on clause, hence Porto are keen on making big money on the player. The two-time European champions aren’t willing to sell the player. Therefore, they have set a high price and strict conditions for negotiations.
Varela’s numbers highlight a balanced midfield profile
Varela has registered two goals in 26 appearances in Liga Portugal this season. He has a passing accuracy of 86.6 per cent and primarily plays as a central midfielder.
The Argentina U23 international has blocked 0.51 shots per 90, highlighting his involvement in Porto’s defence. He also created four big chances in Liga Portugal this season, ranking in the top 17.2 per cent of central midfielders in the league.
Overall, the 24-year-old has a balanced profile and is usually used as a deep-lying midfielder despite his primary position this season.
Verela’s composure and defensive awareness can make him a strong fit under Pep Guardiola, who deploys a control-heavy midfield structure.
