Manchester City arguing for midfielder as Hugo Viana and Pep Guardiola progress summer rebuild | OneFootball

City Football Group (CFG) are conducting negotiations with FC Basel for the permanent sale of African midfielder Metinho this summer, as per a new report.

Manchester City have endured a significant midfield shuffle already since the beginning of the summer transfer window, bringing in Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki to help fill the void left by the departed Kevin De Bruyne, who has joined Napoli on a free transfer.

Hugo Viana was appointed director of football by Manchester City earlier this year and the Portuguese has wasted no time to lay down an early marker since replacing Txiki Begiristain in a key role at the Etihad Stadium.

City have also added Rayan Ait-Nouri and Marcus Bettinelli to their ranks after finishing third in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign with 71 points, representing the Blues’ worst domestic finish under Guardiola.

The FIFA Club World Cup served as a peak through the curtain into what Manchester City fans can expect from this new-look Manchester City side next season, though it remains to be seen whether Guardiola can find an antidote to his side’s evident defensive frailties that proved to be their ultimate downfall last term.

A new right-back is also understood to be on the agenda for the 2023 treble winners, who are interested in Newcastle and England defender Valentino Livramento as they look to find a long-term replacement for Kyle Walker, who will leave the club this summer.

Negotiations with Newcastle are believed to have met an impasse as Manchester City assess whether they want to reenter talks with the Tyneside club over a deal for the recently-crowned U-21 European Championship winner.

Guardiola has been given a new lease of life by the Manchester City board with their strides in the transfer window since January and the onus is now on the Catalan – who signed a new deal in the fall of 2024 – to lead his side back to challenging on all fronts next season.

Manchester City, owned by the City Football Group (CFG), are in negotiations with FC Basel over the permanent sale of Troyes midfielder Metinho, who spent the second half of the recent campaign on loan in Switzerland.

In an interview with Blick, whose quotes have been relayed by Sport Witness, FC Basel sporting director Daniel Stucki has provided an update on talks with Manchester City’s owners for a permanent deal for the 22-year-old Brazilian-Congolese midfielder.

“We are arguing with Manchester City about the transfer fee (for Metinho), they are demanding something we don’t want to pay,” said Stucki.

“He (Metinho) absolutely wants to stay here (Basel) and knows it would be good for him.”