Transfer Centre

Manchester City 'tracking £150m worth of British talent'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 20 February 2019

Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen to add a number of British players to Manchester City's squad, with West Ham United's Declan Rice high on his list of targets.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reportedly intends to strengthen his squad with some homegrown players this summer after setting his sights on £150m worth of British talent.

The Citizens are on course for a third Premier League title in six seasons but they already have an eye on the future.

According to The Sun, City have sent scouts across the country to track young talent ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.

West Ham United star Declan Rice is said to be at the top of Guardiola's list, seen as an ideal long-term successor for Fernandinho in the holding-midfield position.

Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Ben Chilwell of Leicester City will also be targeted in the full-back slots, it is claimed, with the duo available for around £40m.

A City source is quoted as saying: "The club are looking to land more British players in the summer if they can manage to. We all know as soon as a big side comes calling the prices get hiked up but we are only going to invest wisely.

"Scouts have been out all season looking for the top talents and these are the three players that have come back the most. There will be some trimming of our own squad this summer to accommodate them but we are confident."

Chilwell has already been capped five times by England at senior level, while Rice and Wan-Bissaka are in line to earn their first call-ups next month.