From Spain: Manchester City initiate contact over transfer for Tottenham defender | OneFootball

Manchester City are looking towards Tottenham for defensive recruitment this summer, according to emerging reports from Spain.

As incoming manager Enzo Maresca and Sporting Director Hugo Viana begin reshaping the squad profile, fixing defensive depth has seemingly become an immediate priority among other areas in the roster.

Following a highly competitive season where Manchester City fell just short of reclaiming the Premier League title, the board is seemingly determined to provide Maresca with high-level options to get the post-Pep Guardiola era off to a flying start.

The pursuit of a right-back comes amid widespread dressing room evolution following the historic conclusion of Guardiola’s decade-long era. Long-serving legends like John Stones and Bernardo Silva are moving on, while the likes of Nico Gonzalez are assessing options.

While City’s team remain locked in discussions for other targets like Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, adding elite width down the right flank has emerged as a vital summer objective.

Manchester City’s right-back search in the Premier League

Now, according to AS’ Jorge Garcia, whilst Tottenham have held talks with their Spanish full-back Pedro Porro over a new contract beyond 2028, Manchester City have initiated contact to try and secure a transfer – and possibly before the World Cup.

It is claimed that both the player and Tottenham themselves are aware of City’s interest in the defender, although the North London club are not wanting to lose one of their most important players.

As such, it is insisted that ‘a significant effort will be required’ if City are to sign the midfielder, with Spurs having already set a starting price of £50 million.

The difficulty in recruiting from Tottenham

Securing Pedro Porro’s signature will likely require Hugo Viana to flex his financial muscle and navigate Tottenham’s notoriously uncompromising boardroom stance when it comes to sales to direct competitors.

Porro has evolved into one of the most prominent attacking full-backs in Europe, making him a potentially seamless fit for the style Maresca intends to implement at Manchester City.

However, with Matheus Nunes having performed to such a high standard this season and proving his suitability to the right-back role himself, City will have to decide whether to meet the £50 million asking price for Pedro Porro immediately or engage in a summer standoff.

Hugo Viana could yet turn to alternative options, with Manchester City understood to have been monitoring the performances of Feyenoord’s Givairo Read and AS Roma’s Wesley as younger options, in addition to Brentford’s Michael Kayode.