Manchester City are pursuing a move for Real Madrid full-back Achraf Hakimi, per Cadena Ser.
The report states that a number of clubs have expressed an interest in signing the left-back, who has been on loan at Borussia Dortmund since 2018.
City, though, are pushing for a deal and will pursue it provided the Court of Arbitration for Sport clear the club of any wrongdoing and allow them to play in next season’s Champions League; they are currently banned.
The deal would cost around €60 million (£53.8m), with Hakimi having impressed throughout the season in the Bundesliga.
The Morocco international has made 43 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists, proving that he is a threat at both ends of the pitch.
It remains to be seen, of course, if Dortmund will try to rival City’s bid, having had Hakimi on their books for the past two years.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This throws up some questions for City.
They currently have Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko who can play at left-back, with Mendy appearing to be first-choice.
Indeed, the France international cost the club £52m, so moving for Hakimi would take their spending on two left-backs to £105.8m.
One has to believe, then, that there is a long-term plan for the potential sale of Mendy if Hakimi comes in; a club doesn’t spend that amount of money on a player who is going to be nothing more than a back-up.
Of course, this comes down to the CAS, but should City be cleared, Mendy ought to be looking over his shoulder.