Man City plot dazzling move for recent Villa signing as door opens for Real Madrid to land €60m star Guardiola wants gone

Manchester City are reportedly looking into a surprise summer deal to bring Alex Moreno to the club – with Pep Guardiola reportedly looking to prise him away from Aston Villa just a few months after his arrival.

The reigning Premier League champions are moving through the gears this season and on Wednesday night returned to the top of the table. And a win over Leeds on Saturday afternoon can see move move four points clear of Arsenal in thier quest to land a fifth domestic crown in six seasons.

The best, though, could be yet to come with Manchester City also favourites to end the club’s quest to become European champions. They face Real Madrid in the semi-finals with either AC Milan or Inter Milan lying in wait for the winners.

And they could also win the treble and repeat Manchester United’s incredible 1999 feat if they beat the Red Devils in the FA Cup final.

Astonishingly, Guardiola’s side have put themselves in position for success without a recognised left-back in their side.

The position has been filled superbly by Nathan Ake this season. And the Dutchman’s fine form saw Guardiola let Joao Cancelo depart for Bayern Munich. Indeed, the Portuguese star was allowed to move to the German champions in the January window amid a reported falling out with his manager.

Regarded as one of the world’s elite full-backs, it certainly came as a surprise when Guardiola allowed Cancelo to depart.

In his absence, Nathan Ake has established himself on the left-side of City’s defence. However, the departure of Cancelo leaves Sergio Gomez as the only specialist left-back in the City squad.

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Guardiola looking to bring Alex Moreno to City

Now, according to Foot Mercato, Guardiola is making the signing of a new left-back a top priority for City this summer.

And the man figuring at the very top of his wanted list is Aston Villa star Moreno.

The 29-year-old only swapped Real Betis for Unai Emery’s side in the January window. But he has made a rapid impact on Villa, with some stirring displays for the Midlanders.

Indeed, with three assists to his name already, Moreno has caught the eye. And his dazzling displays for Villa look likely to soon earn him a recall to the Spain squad.

However, his time at Villa Park could prove brief if the reports in France are accurate. They claim his move to Birmingham will ‘open many doors’ for Moreno with both Chelsea and City huge admirers.

But with Chelsea well blessed for left-backs – they already have Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell on their books – a spectacular move to City looks more likely.

Cancelo out, Moreno in at City

Villa will not let Moreno leave without a fight and will surely demand a sizeable fee for the player. However, the report claims they will not be able to block the move with Guardiola desperate to reunite with the player who was in the Barcelona academy during his time at the helm.

And City will reportedly fund a deal by allowing Cancelo to complete a permanent move away. While Bayern look unlikely to sign him permanently, a move to Real Madrid is reportedly on the cards.

City reportedly value Cancelo in the €60m mark, a fee Real have the means to meet. Either way, Guardiola seemingly has decided there is no way back for the 28-year-old at the Etihad.

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