Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Juventus right-back Dani Alves, Goal has learned. City are targeting four full-backs this summer and it has now emerged that Alves was identified as one of the four top names in April.
The Premier League club are also working on deals for first-choice targets Benjamin Mendy, the Monaco left-back, and Kyle Walker, the Tottenham right-back. Txiki Begiristain, City's director of football, had hoped to conclude deals for Mendy and Walker before signing the Blues' other options, Alves and Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand. But despite renewed efforts in recent days City are yet to agree on transfer fees with Monaco and Tottenham.
Senior City sources remain confident of signing their top two targets but Alves could now become the club's third signing of the summer, following in the footsteps of Bernardo Silva and Ederson, as talks with Juventus have advanced significantly in the last 48 hours.
Whereas Monaco and Tottenham are keen to make as much money as possible for Mendy and Walker, Juve are thought to be requesting a relatively nominal fee for Alves. The former Barcelona man, like Mendy, Walker and Bertrand, is also keen to link up with Pep Guardiola and City sources expect the team to agree personal terms swiftly. Alves was a key member of Guardiola's dressing room at Barcelona and it is believed the Catalan wants to bring more big personalities to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Though Guardiola is happy that he has a committed, loyal squad of players under his command, he has identified Aleksandar Kolarov as one of few colourful characters in the squad and believes Alves will bring a lot to his team, both on and off the pitch.
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