Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola eyeing cut-price £3m January deal for Napoli full-back Faouzi Ghoulam as Benjamin Mendy replacement
The 26-year-old is out of contract next summer and free to speak to English clubs over a free transfer
MANCHESTER CITY are eying a cut-price £3m deal for Napoli left-back Faouzi Ghoulam in January.
The 26-year-old is out of contract next summer and free to speak to English clubs over a free transfer.
But Pep Guardiola wants to bring the Algerian ace in early as a replacement for the crocked Benjamin Mendy.
Ghoulam is also being looked at by Liverpool and Chelsea after impressing in Serie A over the last few seasons.
City are hoping to open talks with Napoli next week when they face each other in the Champions League at the Etihad.
He is refusing to sign improved terms with the Italian giants, and wants a new challenge abroad.
Ghoulam is set to be offered around £90,000-a-week by City, along with a hefty signing-on bonus.
An Etihad source said: “Ghoulam has been looked at for a while and Pep is very much interested.
“City play Napoli next week and are hoping to steal a march on others about a deal. He’s free to speak to English clubs soon.
“Pep is looking for a cheap replacement for Mendy and the scouts have reported some good things.”
Ex-France Under-21 international Ghoulam joined Napoli from Saint-Etienne in 2014.
He has gone on to make 105 Serie A appearances and score two goals for the club.
