Hugo Viana eyeing stunning swoop for Arsenal target amid first-team star’s injury troubles | OneFootball

Manchester City are leading the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown amid growing competition from Arsenal, as per a new report.

City have restocked their backline with the acquisitions of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Rayan Ait-Nouri in 2025, with Reis spending the 2025-26 season on loan at Girona to progress his development with regular playing opportunities.

Pep Guardiola sanctioned the loan departure of Manuel Akanji to Inter Milan in the final days of the recent transfer window as officials at the Etihad Stadium sought to trim City’s bloated first-team squad – following recurring requests from the manager to work with a streamlined group after last season’s personnel troubles.

City took the summer window by the scruff of the neck following the appointment of Hugo Viana as director of football, with seven new players brought into the first-team and several senior stars integral to the club’s success over the years shown the door.

Four new additions were made to the first-team in time for the FIFA Club World Cup in June as Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki all brought in for the jet to the United States, where City exited the Club World Cup at the Round of 16 stage following an extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal.

Sverre Nypan was signed from Norwegian side Rosenborg and after the 18-year-old midfielder impressed Manchester City’s coaching staff in pre-season, club officials decided to send Nypan to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan to see how their new recruit fares in the EFL Championship.

James Trafford was brought back to the Etihad Stadium two seasons on from the 22-year-old’s departure to Burnley, with Manchester City activating a buy-back clause in the England international’s contract to bolster their options between the sticks.

As Ederson approached a desired transfer away from England after eight seasons at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City agreed a £26 million deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Gianluigi Donnarumma and completed the marquee, shrewd addition of the Italian goalkeeper on deadline day to end the window in flying fashion.

Caught Offside are reporting that Manchester City are locked in a transfer battle with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Aston Villa for the services of Eintracht Frankfurt and Germany U-21 left-back Nathaniel Brown.

Brown has attracted widespread interest from England following a series of eye-catching displays at left-back in the Bundesliga this term, with Manchester City officials also monitoring a possible opening in the transfer market for the in-form defender.

The 22-year-old has five years left on his current at Frankfurt and will not be a cheap get but warm ties between Manchester City and officials at Deutsche Bank Park could come in handy in a possible deal after the arrival of Omar Marmoush to the Etihad Stadium from Frankfurt in January.

It remains to be seen whether Manchester City formalise their interest in Brown after securing the arrival of Ait-Nouri from Wolves this summer, with academy graduate Nico O’Reilly – who signed a new contract last week – also capable of playing at left-back, in addition to Josko Gvardiol.