Vincent Kompany set to snub Barcelona for Manchester City
The Spanish giants have made no secret of their search for another centre-half this summer.
City are bracing themselves for an unwelcome multi-million pound raid from Barcelona for captain Vincent Kompany.
The Spanish giants have made no secret of their search for another centre-half this summer.
But they have been left frustrated in their attempts to prise Thiago Silva away from Paris Saint-Germain after the Brazilian signed a new five-year deal to stay in the French capital this week.
Reports in Spain suggest new Barcelona coach Tata Martino identified Kompany and Chelsea defender David Luiz as his top targets during a meeting with sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday.
But any enquiry from the Nou Camp is likely to be rebuffed by City.
Kompany is a senior figure in the dressing room at the Etihad Stadium and only signed a new six-year contract 12 months ago.
Given the strong stance they can expect from City, Barcelona will have to hope Kompany tries to force a move if they’ve got any hope of landing their man.
But that’s extremely unlikely with the 27-year-old Belgium defender tied to the club until 2018 and his family settled in Manchester.
After signing his new deal a year ago, Kompany said: “I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out.
“It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years. It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me. Hopefully in the future I will have a bigger impact.
“My family is happy and there are so many more trophies to win at this club – that is why it makes it so special.”
However, that’s unlikely to stop Barcelona testing the water given the need to bolster their squad with a top-class defender.
Before he was forced to step down to undergo further cancer treatment, former Barca boss Tito Vilanova was clear about where he saw a need for reinforcements.
Vilanova said: “I have not asked a player in particular. I would like Thiago Silva, but there are other players too. In any case we’ll certainly sign a centre-back.”
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[/spoiler]more bollox later ....
