Manchester City are keen to sign Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli this summer, but face competition from Juventus and Milan.
Locatelli has impressed Roberto De Zerbi’s side this season, missing just one game due to suspension and helping them mount a surprise bid for Champions League qualification. No midfielder has recorded a higher progressive passing distance in Serie A this season and he’s also leading the way for combined tackles and interceptions.
According to the Daily Mail, his impressive form is attracting interest from City, who could see him as the perfect replacement for Fernandinho, whose deal expires at the end of the season. Locatelli is under contract until 2023 and it would take more than £ 30million to take him away from Sassuolo, a club where he has rebuilt his career.
After breaking into Milan in the 2015/2016 season, Locatelli has gradually fallen out of favor. Eventually, he switched to Neroverdi in 2018, initially on loan before joining definitively.
Milan are also reportedly interested in bringing him back to San Siro, with Juventus similarly sniffing the midfielder.
The player’s agent Stefano Castelnuovo said: “We have a great relationship with Sassuolo, the club are really ambitious. We will see what happens. If a nice offer comes along, it would be nice if everyone could find a deal. We ‘I will always be grateful to Sassuolo.
“Once again he will always be grateful to the club [Milan], but I think he’s looking for a different experience, in Italy or abroad. He dreams of playing in the Champions League, let’s hope he and Sassuolo get a gift this summer. “
Locatelli’s side are currently outside the top four in the seventh, although they are ahead of third-placed Roma by just five points.
