Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli has poured cold water on Manchester City’s ambitions to sign €80m-rated Andrea Cambiaso.
City’s pursuit of Cambiaso comes amid uncertainties surrounding Kyle Walker’s future at the Etihad Stadium.
The 34-year-old has been a cornerstone of City’s defence for several seasons, but Walker has been linked with a potential move to AC Milan, fuelling City’s urgency to identify a long-term replacement.
The Premier League champions reportedly tabled an initial bid of €65 million (£54.7m/$67m) for the Italy international, but Juventus have set their valuation at €80 million (£67m/$82m).
Cambiaso’s ability to play both as a full-back and a wing-back makes him an attractive option for City, especially given Pep Guardiola’s preference for versatile defenders.
However, Giuntoli has dismissed rumours of active negotiations with the English champions and instead revealed that the emphasis is on strengthening their squad.
With Juventus playing hardball for Cambiaso, City might be forced to look at alternatives. They are on the verge of sealing the Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov and Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis but a third defensive reinforcement looks a bit complicated.