Manchester City are keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest star Ola Aina as they consider replacing Kyle Walker.
The right-back is now 34 and his age is catching up with him as the champions look for ways to lower the average age of their team. Aina, who was once part of Chelsea's youth academy, has been a standout player for Forest, who have performed tremendously this season.
Those in Nottingham managed to free Aina, who is 28, after he was released by Italian side Torino last year. City Ground bosses now want to tie him down quickly as his contract expires at the end of the season. The player himself has shown no desire to move on, but City's appeal could be hard to ignore.
Pep Guardiola will likely be attracted by his versatility. The Forest man can play on either flank, with City looking to reinvigorate the backline, The Sun reports.
Walker has been in and out of the City team after once being a regular. The Englishman moved to Manchester just as they began to dominate the Premier League. His pace was a huge asset, but his performance has deteriorated dramatically in recent months.
Guardiola has signed for another season but wants to quickly address the issues that have arisen this season. City are currently in their worst form for almost two decades and are in a battle to reach the top four, with the manager hinting at new recruits.
Another man shortlisted at the Etihad is Brighton's midfielder Carlos Baleba. The Seagulls once again showed how market smart they can be with the 20-year-old, an unknown quantity, when they paid £23 million to sign him from Lille last season.
However, Brighton have continued to demand top dollar for their best players and have tied Baleba down for the long term. City will therefore have to pay a large fee if they want to sign him.
Another man who could pursue the Manchester club is Martin Zubimendi. Rodri's absence is a major reason behind their problems and the Real Sociedad star, who replaced Rodri in the Euro 2024 final, could help City, although he won't come cheap here either.
Guardiola may also have to offload a number of players who have had huge success since 2017. Several of them are past their prime, with Ederson linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Kevin De Bruyne, the team's talisman for so long, could also leave.
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