Transfer notebook: Manchester City interested in Atletico Madrid left-back Renan Lodi

Manchester City will look at adding a senior left-back to Pep Guardiola’s squad and are assessing several options on a shortlist that includes Atletico Madrid’s Renan Lodi.

Sergio Gomez, 21, is on the verge of arriving at the Etihad Stadium in an £11 million deal from Anderlecht but could yet be loaned out this season should City land another full-back to play regularly in Guardiola’s first team.

When the Spain Under-21 international completes the formalities of his deal, City will remain in the market for a left-back following Oleksandr Zinchenko’s move to Arsenal this summer.

City were interested in a deal for Marc Cucurella at Brighton but refused to get drawn into a bidding war for the Spaniard, who ended up moving to Chelsea in a deal worth £60m and leaving the Premier League champions without their target to add to Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips as first-team summer signings.

Atletico are braced for interest in Lodi in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. The Brazil international, 24, has been a regular at the Wanda Metropolitano for his three full seasons since joining from Athletico Paranaense.

Lodi, who won La Liga two seasons ago, is the profile of player who would fit straight into Guardiola’s team, but Atletico may view him in the same price bracket as Cucurella. He has a long-term contract with three seasons remaining.

Portugal right-back Raphael Guerreiro is also a player under consideration and has just one year left on his contract at Borussia Dortmund. The 28-year-old has a wealth of experience in European football after seven seasons at Westfalenstadion and an international career that saw him play in the final and win the Euros in 2016.

City have also tracked Croatia full-back Borna Sosa at Stuttgart, who has been playing regular Bundesliga football, as options are looked at. Guardiola has so far played Joao Cancelo at left-back in the Community Shield and the Premier League opener at West Ham.

As the summer deadline approaches, players with Premier League experience such as Kieran Tierney could come into play. Zinchenko was taken to Arsenal with a view to playing in midfield but has started the campaign well at left-back, where Tierney has played since 2019.

City are also aware of the progress Rayan Ait-Nouri has made at Wolves despite him being at fault for Leeds United’s goals last weekend in his team’s defeat at Elland Road.

Brighton turn to Ecuador left-back

Brighton have made Villarreal left-back Pervis Estupiñán their No1 target to replace Marc Cucarella following his departure to Chelsea.

Cucarella’s £60m move to Stamford Bridge has left Graham Potter looking for a left-back before the summer transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Estupiñán has been on Brighton’s radar after two seasons under Unai Emery and a loan at Osasuna in La Liga.

The Ecuador international is seen as a player who could adapt immediately to the Premier League and has been tracked by other English clubs, with Brighton pushing hard for his signature. Nottingham Forest are among those interested in Estupiñán.

Man Utd starlet Laird to join QPR on loan

By Mike McGrath

Manchester United have agreed a season-long deal for Ethan Laird to join QPR and be part of their Championship promotion campaign.

The 21-year-old was at Swansea and Bournemouth on short-term deals last season and had a number of second-tier clubs chasing his signature for 2022/23.

QPR head coach Michael Beale, who was victorious in his first match at the club at the weekend against Middlesbrough, has won the race to sign the full-back. Watford were widely reported to be interested in him.

Laird is highly regarded at Old Trafford and is expected to compete for a first-team place in the future but it is felt he would benefit from EFL experience, having also had a spell at MK Dons as a teenager.

Erik ten Hag played Diogo Dalot at right-back in the defeat to Brighton at the weekend and also had Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the bench, and the Dutch coach was willing to let Laird go out on loan for regular games.

Last season, Laird played in 20 of Swansea’s Championship games before United triggered an option to recall him in January, which then saw him go to Bournemouth, who he helped secure promotion back to the Premier League.

Freuler to become Forest's 13th summer signing

By John Percy

Nottingham Forest are set to make Swiss midfielder Remo Freuler their 13th signing of the summer.

Freuler was having a medical on Thursday night ahead of an £8 million move from Serie A club Atalanta.

Forest have spent more than £90 million since clinching promotion to the Premier League and are assessing a number of other targets before the transfer window closes.

Manchester United midfielder James Garner remains on their radar but Forest have cooled their interest in Morgan Gibbs-White, the Wolves attacker.

Forest offered £25 million plus significant add-ons for Gibbs-White last week but the proposal was turned down and the club is now considering other options.