Manchester City keen on stunning move for £130m-rated midfielder

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has earmarked a blockbuster move to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, claims The Daily Mirror.

Guardiola has failed to sign a long-term replacement for Fernandinho in each of the last two transfer windows and has made that his priority in the summer.

City missed out on Fred and Jorginho to Manchester United and Chelsea, respectively, last summer and conceded defeat to Barcelona for Ajax wonderkid Frenkie de Jong last month.

The Premier League leaders are determined not to be held to ransom in transfer negotiations but that stance could cost them in their pursuit of Saul.

The Spain international is only two years into his spectacular nine-year deal at Atletico and there is an enormous £130m release clause in his contract.

That would require City breaking their club-transfer record twice over and Guardiola’s side are not prepared to do that.

Guardiola’s side haven’t been completely put off the idea of signing the 24-year-old and will still sound out a move ahead of the summer.

Saul is an ever-present in Atletico’s midfield and it would take a stunning turn of events for the Spaniard to leave his boyhood club.

Since the start of last season, Saul has completed more tackles than any other player in La Liga (189).