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Manchester City have identified a big money transfer target for next summer, with the club taking a ‘business as usual’ mentality despite a significant punishment looming over their heads.
City were found guilty of more than 100 charges of financial irregularity which could lead to their expulsion from the Premier League if their appeal fails, leading to fears of a mass exodus and fire sale of their star players.
However, TEAMtalk report that the club are still working on potential signings for 2027 even with the prospect of sanctions such as points deductions, a transfer ban or relegation being discussed by authorities.
One player on the club’s radar is Brentford’s Michael Kayode, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United after they watched the defender on a regular basis last season.
Enzo Maresca is still keen on signing a right-back, having wanted Chelsea’s Malo Gusto during the summer, and the City boss is understood to admire Kayode massively, with the Italian seen as a player who fits the club’s profile for the future.
Brentford are said to be insistent that they have no plans to sell Kayode, having tied him to a new, long-term deal earlier this year, while the 22-year-old is also believed to be very happy at the club, with no indication that he is looking to leave.
Michael Kayode: Man City likely to miss out on record deal for Brentford star
Kayode has impressed since joining Brentford from Fiorentina in 2025 for €17.5 million after a successful loan spell and the youngster scored on his debut for Italy’s national team against Turkey last month.
The right-back played all but one of Brentford’s Premier League matches last season and he has been an ever-present this year too, scoring once in his five appearances.
It appears unlikely that City would be able to move ahead of rivals given the uncertainty over their future, even if a resolution over a punishment drags on.
Instead, data analytics firm SciSports see Liverpool as Kayode’s best option if he were to leave Brentford, with a club fit of 77 out of 100, while Arsenal would be a close second at 72.
Both sides had been considering full-back signings during the summer but they continued with their current options, suggesting that the position could become a priority next year.
However, with Kayode now having six years remaining on his contract, Brentford are likely to demand in excess of his €62.7m Estimated Transfer Value (ETV), meaning any side would have to break the transfer record for a full-back in order to sign him.
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