Man City boss Pep Guardiola eyes Harry Maguire alternative as Isco transfer considered

Man City boss Pep Guardiola eyes Harry Maguire alternative as Isco transfer considered (Image: GETTY)

PEP GUARDIOLA is weighing up making transfer deadline busting moves for Real Madrid midfielder Isco and AFC Bournemouth central defender Nathan Ake.

The Manchester City boss has been interested in the Spanish international all summer but has been in no hurry to pull the trigger on the move.

Real Madrid are keen to offload Isco, 27, to balance the books as a heavy summer re-building programme and he is a player Zinedine Zidane is willing to lose.

The Premier League champions have had a quiet transfer window with Guardiola only so far adding three players to his squad.

Atletico Madrid star Rodri, PSV Edinhoven left-back Angelino and Columbus Crew keeper Zack Steffan are the new arrivals at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has been looking to strengthen his defence but pulled out of the bidding for Harry Maguire early on scared off by Leicester City’s valuation.

Ake, 24, who also interests Champions League finalists Tottenham Hotspur is a player that City have been keeping tabs on since last season.

And they wouldn’t have any problems matching the ￡40million valuation that it would take to persuade Bournemouth to sell one of their most prized assets.

Guardiola recently hit out at claims from Liverpool rival Jurgen Klopp that City are able to spend freely ever year.

Klopp suggested that City live in “fantasia land” and are capable of massive spends every summer.

“It bothers me because it’s not true that we spent ￡200m every window,” Guardiola responded.

“So it’s Liverpool; you’ll never walk alone; it’s not a small team, it’s Liverpool. So of course I don’t like it.

“Last season we spent [a net] ￡17m on just one player.

“Two seasons ago when we spent a lot it’s because I took over a team with 10 or 11 players aged 30 or over so I had to do it.

“But we cannot spend ￡200m every season. For example, Liverpool spent more than ￡200m last season and can’t do it again this season, so it’s the same.

“We bought one player [Rodri] this summer and paid the [￡5.3m] buy-back clause for Angelino and that is the reality.

“So today clubs cannot spend every single season spending a lot of money.”