Manchester City face Arsenal in January transfer battle over in-demand Champions League left-back

Premier League champions Manchester City are poised to enter into a transfer confrontation with Arsenal over one of Europe’s in-demand left-back talents.

It is the latest development in a long list of updates concerning the Etihad Stadium club and their intentions over January business, in a staggering u-turn over their usual stance when it comes to the winter market.

Manchester City are often against investing too heavily during January and last bought a high-profile, big-money star back in 2018 through Aymeric Laporte and his transfer from Athletic Bilbao midway through their first Premier League title-winning season under Pep Guardiola.

City have invested in up and coming stars that have gone on to become huge names within the game including Gabriel Jesus and Julian Alvarez signing onto deals in previous January markets, whilst Claudio Echeverri became the latest to add to that rule last winter.

Now though, as part of Manchester City’s ongoing concerns over their fate this season amid an 11-game run of matches that has seen them lose eight times, the club are insistent on spending with cash reserves available in an attempt to save their season.

According to the information of TBR Football, Premier League giants Arsenal and City are both ‘doing work on’ Club Brugge full-back, Maxim De Cuyper ahead of a potential deal during the upcoming January transfer window.

The left-back has caught the eye amongst some of the Premier League’s leading clubs having scored once this season while also providing four assists across his 24 appearances from left-back for the Champions League side.

Interestingly, both Arsenal and Manchester City scouts were reportedly sent to watch the Belgian in action for Club Brugge in a 2-0 win over Genk on Sunday, while it is claimed that Chelsea, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have also monitored his performances this season.

Manchester City will have a primary opportunity to assess De Cuyper up close and in-person, should he remain available and still starring at the Belgian side come that time, when the club takes on Club Brugge on matchday eight of the UEFA Champions League at the end of January.

Various other quarters believe Manchester City’s transfer interest will lie predominantly in other areas of the pitch, with the central midfield ranks likely to be of primary interest and attention turning towards Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes.

Previous reports have indicated that the Brazilian international holds an interest in joining Pep Guardiola’s side, but no doubt City would have to invest significantly in order to tempt Newcastle into a mid-season sale