Man City identify key January transfer target – but they'll need to cough up £50m for him

EXCLUSIVE: Pep Guardiola is looking to strengthen his team in the January transfer window as Manchester City bid to defend their Premier League title

Manchester City want Club Brugge winger Tajon Buchanan in January.

‌The Canadian ace, 24, still has another 18 months on his contract in Belgium. And that means the Treble holders will need to cough up around £50million to bag him in the New Year window.

‌But that appears to be City’s plan as Pep Guardiola looks to further strengthen his squad along the right flank. The Spanish coach, whose side had gone four league games without a win heading into the weekend, is desperate to have more options in that position.

‌Since losing Riyad Mahrez to the Saudi Pro League last summer, Guardiola has failed to settle on a regular successor - with the likes of Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden assuming the role. Buchanan, who can also operate as a right-wing back, fits the criteria demanded by Guardiola.

And as he is unlikely to sign a new deal at Brugge, the Belgium club will have little option but to sell should the English champions come calling when the window opens next month.

The former MLS man joined Brugge in August 2021 for just £7m and his former outfit New England Revolution will receive 10 per cent of any sell-on fee. Which is why he will not be going anywhere before next summer for less than £50m.

The fact Italian giants Inter Milan are also tracking Buchanan, who has won 35 caps for his country, is likely to help push his price up to where Brugge want.

City will hope the potential acquisition of of Buchanan can help them push on in the second half of the season after a disappointing run of results. The Cityzens are winless in their last four Premier League games and fell to 1-0 defeat to surprise package Aston Villa in midweek.

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