Danny Rose is a £25 million target for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, according to Mirror Football. The English international signed a new five-year contract in September, but it is believed that that won’t avert Guardiola from making an offer.
All four of Manchester City’s current first team full-backs – Aleksander Kolarov, Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy are 31 or older and the Manchester City manager is keen to bring in younger legs his defence. Left-back is one of the positions where they are looking to strengthen, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy having fallen short this season.
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The 26-year old is now England’s first choice left-back and is one of the most coveted players in the country in his position. City scouts have been monitoring Tottenham's Rose in recent weeks and Guardiola has been reportedly impressed by their reports.
But Guardiola could face a battle with Manchester United chief Jose Mourinho who is also looking at left-back options in the transfer market. Manchester United were scouting the £25 million left-back while Louis van Gaal was in charge.
What is certain is that a deal could have complications, especially as both admirers would have to deal with a resilient negotiator in Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. The Tottenham chairman will demand a fortune for Rose — especially with the defender having signed a new deal and established himself as first choice left-back in the England squad.
Rose, who joined from Leeds United in 2007, has taken the time to win a permanent place at White Hart Lane and even this season has had to fight off Welsh international Ben Davies to become Pochettino’s first choice left-back.
His speed and shooting accuracy have made him one of the Premier League’s best full-backs, with Guardiola believing that the Englishman can play in the system he is trying to execute at City.
Tactics not at fault for leaky defence, says Guardiola
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s side were out-thought and fought by defending champions Leicester City over the weekend, but the Spaniard dismissed suggestions about the players not adapting to his system: "It is not about the system. We defended well with these players at the beginning of the season.
"Now we have to stand up and analyse what happened, especially mentally to encourage the players to step forward. I want to play the football I feel," said Guardiola, whose team are seven points adrift of table leaders Chelsea.
A scrappy defensive display from Guardiola’s men left questions hanging over whether the Spaniard’s successful methods from Spain and Germany will transfer successfully into the Premier League.
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