Spanish duo targetted to solve Man City's full-back problems

Manchester City are looking to La Liga in a bid to bolster their defensive ranks this summer, hoping to sign one of two young full-backs identified by Pep Guardiola.

According to the Daily Mail, however, City risk being beaten to the signing of Atletico's Theo Hernandez by their capital city rivals Real Madrid. The 19-year old is enjoying a fine season on loan at Deportivo Alaves, making the left-back spot his own having made 24 league starts. With three assists and a notable 2.3 dribbles per game he has caught the eye of the league leaders in Spain, who are reportedly ready to offer £20m to lure the teenager away from their neighbours.

A move, then, for Valencia's Jose Gaya may well be more likely to bear fruit for the Citizens this summer, with Eliaquim Mangala being offered as a makeweight in a deal for the 21-year old according to the Daily Star. The Frenchman is on loan with los Che as things stand and while they seem keen to make the move permanent, the club are struggling to come up with the £16m fee that would ensure that happens.

As a result Gaya, who has been on City's radar for some time, may be allowed to leave to enable Mangala to move the other way and earn a considerable fee for the Spanish side on top of the centre-back's permanent acquisition. Gaya has made 23 league appearances this season and arguably offers greater defensive qualities than Hernandez, averaging 2.7 tackles per game for Valencia.

Having had to field the likes of Fernandinho and Jesus Navas in the full-back positions in recent weeks, with the futures of Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy and Aleksandr Kolarov all up in the air, defensive reinforcements are understandably a priority for Guardiola this summer.