Manchester City are going to Plan B after seemingly being priced out of a move for Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy.
The B is Bertrand. Southampton defender Ryan Bertrand, to be exact.
Next season is set to be a busy one in the transfer market, with players looking for as much game time as possible ahead of next year’s World Cup in Russia.
England full-back Bertrand is no different. City were keen on the 27-year-old, but their interest had reportedly cooled, as they closed in on Mendy.
However Monaco are not keen to sell Mendy, and valued him at £40m in a bid to scare off City.
The tactic appears to have work, with Pep Guardiola possibly now having to look elsewhere as he changes his defence for next season.
Big-spending City are offloading Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, this summer as their contracts expire.
Coming to the Etihad Stadium this summer are goalkeeper Ederson, along with playmaker Bernardo Silva.
Former Barcelona star Dani Alves is set to arrive from Italian champions Juventus, while they are also ready to sign Tottenham’s Kyle Walker.
By Steve Osborne @BlizzardSteve75
