Man City defender attracts transfer interest from Champions League clubs

Yan Couto could net Manchester City a serious profit this summer as Champions League clubs show an interest in the defender.

Couto was signed by the Blues back in 2020 in a deal potentially worth over £10m, the right-back choosing Manchester over Barcelona after being convinced of their interest during an Under-17 World Cup for Brazil. He has not played a senior game for Pep Guardiola's side, but has spent a year in the Portuguese league with Braga and three years with Girona - including their current run that sees them on course to finish ahead of Barcelona and qualify for next season's Champions League.

City have right-back questions of their own to answer this summer with Kyle Walker attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, while Girona would also be keen to keep a player who has made regular contributions to their amazing season. However, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and Italian giants Juventus as well as a few Premier League clubs have already taken a look at Couto.

ALSO READ: Bernardo Silva Man City transfer latest - release clause, next club hints

ALSO READ: 14-year-old midfielder claims Man City 'collaboration' behind MLS record deal

Given former City right-back Pedro Porro went for £39m last summer when Spurs paid his release clause at Sporting, that would help benchmark the fee for the Blues if the interest in the player was backed up in the summer transfer window. Couto spoke last month about the plans that were already being made for next season as he looks for his next move, with a number of options if he doesn't feel he will be able to force his way into Guardiola's squad in Manchester.

“I’m talking a lot with my agents, we have to start planning objectives, I have a Man City contract until 2026," he said. "It’s a conversation we have a lot, what they expect in future. We’ll talk, nothing has been decided yet, we’ll see if I go to pre-season or not."