The Man City defender is attracting transfer interest from Champions League clubs

Yan Couto could bring Manchester City a serious return this summer as Champions League clubs show interest in the defender.

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

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

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With former City right-back Pedro Porro earning £39m last summer when Spurs paid his release clause at Sporting, that would help match the fee for the Blues if interest in the player be supported in the summer transfer window. Couto spoke last month of plans already being made for next season as he looks for his next move, with a number of options if he doesn’t feel he can force his way into Guardiola’s squad in Manchester.

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