Manchester City have made a significant step closer in their pursuit of Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand after Monaco slapped a £40m price tag on Benjamin Mendy.
Sky Sports News HQ understands that Bertrand, along with his fellow England full-back Kyle Walker, could be City players within a fortnight.
Sky sources reported in April that Bertrand and Tottenham’s Walker were both in City’s top-five on their list of targets this summer – and it is understood some aspects of the deal for Bertrand have already been agreed.
The deal would see the full-back more than double the £55,000 a week he is presently on at St Mary’s.
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Southampton, meanwhile, say they have not yet received any official approaches for Bertrand or any of their players.
nce again, the summer window looks likely to be a difficult time for Southampton with Virgil van Dijk looking increasingly likely to be heading for Liverpool and Dusan Tadic linked with a move to Italy.
City boss Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, is desperate to upgrade his options at full-back following the departures of Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, and Bacary Sagna.
Guardiola is a known admirer of Monaco’s flying left-back Mendy, although reports on Tuesday morning suggest the two clubs are still some way from agreeing a deal – with Monaco demanding £40m.
