Man City: Thiago Motta makes Andrea Cambiaso decision as City 'prepare £65m bid' for Juventus defender

Thiago Motta has revealed that Andrea Cambiaso will be in the Juventus squad to face AC Milan this weekend despite talk of a move to Manchester City.

A clear transfer priority for City this month, in terms of incomings, as confirmed by manager Pep Guardiola has been to bolster the defence after suffering multiple injuries in this department during the first half of the season.

Reports claim the reigning Premier League champions have agreed deals for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and young highly-rated Palmeiras centre-back Vitor Reis.

Though with club captain Kyle Walker saying he wants to move and play the final years of his career abroad, the club may have to target a full-back before the January transfer window closes.

According to BBC Sport, Man City are interested in signing Cambiaso and their task of getting a deal done appeared to have been made easier as Juventus have just welcomed a new full-back in Alberto Costa.

However, Motta has insisted that Cambiaso is still set to be involved against Milan on Saturday as Juve look to maintain their unbeaten run in Serie A so far this season.

“The squad is doing well, the team have recovered after the match against Atalanta and trained well these last few days,” Motta told reporters.

“I was impressed by Alberto [Costa], he has brought great energy and enthusiasm, he is another player who can help the group. [Andrea] Cambiaso is fit and will play tomorrow.”

Amid claims of Juventus seeking a fee in the region of £80 million for Cambiaso in response to Man City ‘preparing a £65 million bid’, the aforementioned BBC report states talks over the player are not as advanced as some reports in Italy are suggesting this week.

In addition, it’s said that and there is certainly no guarantee that a transfer will be completed this month.

If Walker does depart before the window closes, it would leave Man City with Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol as natural full-back options, though Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, John Stones and even Mathues Nunes have been used there by Guardiola.