Crystal Palace defender ‘admired’ by Pep Guardiola as Manchester City ‘compile extensive data’ | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City could turn towards Selhurst Park in their ongoing search for a new right-back, according to reports.

Defensive frailties were the hallmark of City’s troubles of the 2024-25 season as the Blues endured their most challenging season under Pep Guardiola, finising third in the Premier League with just 71 points, exiting the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage and losing the 2025 FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.

Hugo Viana made sweeping changes to Guardiola’s ranks upon his appointment as Manchester City’s sporting director in the summer, making seven new additions and signing off on the exits of a series of senior stars past their respective primes.

However, as Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol forged a solid partnership in central defence towards the business stages of the previous season, Manchester City made no additions to their centre-half department in the summer transfer window and sanctioned a season-long loan for Manuel Akanji to Inter Milan.

John Stones was allowed to enter the final season of his current deal and there remain huge concerns over the England international’s fitness record amid an expectation for City to move on one of Guardiola’s first signings at the Etihad Stadium next summer.

Nathan Ake turns 31 in February 2026 and has struggled for minutes this calendar year to the extent that Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has implored the former Bournemouth man to improve his playing time at club level to stake a claim for his nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Stones and Ake could both leave Manchester City at the end of the season, when Guardiola could choose to recall on-loan talent Vitor Reis, who was signed from Palmeiras in January and is thriving on loan at CFG-owned Girona in the Spanish top-flight.

Abdukodir Khusanov is also a competent option at centre-half for City, who are still expected to shuffle their defence next summer as Viana builds on an impressive first summer at the Etihad Stadium and plugs further loopholes in a squad vying for silverware in the seasons to come.

According to the information of CaughtOffside, Manchester City have been keeping a close eye on Crystal Palace’s Daniel Muñoz in recent months, with Guardiola said to admire the 29-year-old’s athleticism, pressing intensity, and overlapping runs from his right-back role.

It is stressed however that while City’s interest has yet to translate into any formal offer, the Etihad Stadium’s recruitment team has ‘compiled extensive scouting data’ on the Colombian defender, while Chelsea and Manchester United are also monitoring his development.

Liverpool view Muñoz as a versatile defensive option who could offer depth and competition to Jeremie Frimpong, according to the report, while Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are also following developments closely from Europe.

City have also been recently linked with a sensational summer swoop for Muñoz’s teammate Marc Guehi, who is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of the season and is expected to attract strong interest from the Premier League and abroad.