MANCHESTER City are plotting a move for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, the England midfielder with Nigerian heritage, according to reports.
Eze is believed to be valued at around £68m, and The Mirror reported today that the Premier League champions are considering a move for the playmaker.
With City talisman Kevin De Bruyne being tempted by a big offer from Saudi Arabia, Pep Guardiola’s side see Eze as his ideal replacement.
Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad are believed to be offering 33-year-old De Bruyne a lucrative contract, and the Belgium international is said to be open to a move.
Eze, 26, has caught the attention of the football world for two seasons now, and Tottenham Hotspur are also believed to be interested in the skillful player.
City, who have won the last four Premier League titles, are believed to have a long-standing admiration for Eze, who has three years left on his contract at Palace and a release clause of £60m plus add-ons.
Crystal Palace are expected to insist on the release clause valuation, especially after losing another star with Nigerian blood, Michael Olise, to Bayern Munich.
City are particularly impressed by Eze’s low maintenance temperament and his versatility, as he can play in a number of positions, the Mirror added.
Last season, Eze was outstanding for Palace, despite having his campaign interrupted by injury, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists to lift Oliver Glasner’s side into a tenth-place finish in the Premier League.
De Bruyne is expected to agree a deal with Al-Ittihad, who have recently appointed Frenchman Laurent Blanc as their new boss and boast a number of big names already, including Fabinho and Karim Benzema.
After 382 appearances, 102 goals, 170 assists and 15 trophies for City, De Bruyne has admitted a big money deal in Saudi Arabia would be hard to turn down at this stage of his career.
