Report: Man City enter £30m race for West Ham target Yves Bissouma
According to the Daily Mirror, Manchester City have now joined West Ham United and a number of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Yves Bissouma this summer.
The 24-year-old has been one of Brighton’s best players this season and has earned praise from managers, players, fans and the media.
He’s shielded the Brighton defence perfectly and has also been a canny passer on the transition – helping the side play the brand of football manager Graham Potter has been lauded for.
Now, Champions League finalists and soon-to-be Premier League champions Manchester City have entered the race to sign the player.
Man City midfielder Fernandinho’s contract expires at the end of the season, and the club are still to begin talks over an extension.
At 36, there’s very little upside for the Citizens to extend his deal, and they would rather look at signing Bissouma for a reported £30m fee.
Looks unlikely
Yves Bissouma comes highly recommended, so much so that Gary Lineker specially tweeted about the player and termed him ‘exceptional’.
He certainly is one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League and could be world-class in a few years, given how quickly he’s improved.
His stats are eye-catching. Per WhoScored, he averages 2.8 tackles won per 90′ this season – which is more than Declan Rice (2), Fernandinho (1.5) and Rodri 1.9) – three of the league’s best players in that position.
He also averages more dribbles and clearances than the trio while completing more interceptions than the two City midfielders.
Many viewed him as an alternative to Rice, who has a similar sort of interest to Bissouma. Both midfielders are tipped to leave this summer, with Rice being the expensive option given his homegrown status and the fact that he could slot into central defence as well.
But given the interest in Bissouma, even if West Ham were to lose Rice, it’s unlikely the Malian would move to the London Stadium as the likes of City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are all interested in him.
At £30m for a future world-class midfielder, the 24-year-old offers a bargain in today’s market and it would be very surprising if any of the top sides pass up on the opportunity to sign him.
In other West Ham news, Report: West Ham emerge as favourites to sign Serie A star who was valued at £130m in 2017
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