EXCLUSIVE: Man City to push ahead for £65m Declan Rice alternative

Manchester City are set to push ahead and make a move for Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez, if a deal for West Ham’s Declan Rice turns into an auction – as they suspect it will.

City have been tracking Rice for a couple of years, and they believe he has all the technical ability to fit into Pep Guardiola’s squad.

Guardiola has given the green-light to pursue the new England star, but they are not alone in their admiration for the player with German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund both keen.

Chelsea are also long-term admirers but it is Manchester United who are set to spoil the party as sources close to the Red Devils believe they will match any offer for the 20-year-old.

And as they have shown before, City are not willing to get embroiled in auctions for players, and for that reason they looking at other options too.

And top of their list is Niguez – like Rice – a player their hierarchy have been tracking for a long time.

City believe that a deal around £65million would be enough to land the 24-year-old Spanish international, and they also think that a deal for Rice would already exceed that figure.