Manchester City’s recent negotiations with Porto over Nico Gonzalez have hit a snag, with Porto demanding that the Premier League champions pay the Spaniard’s £50 million release clause to secure his transfer.

Despite this, Gonzalez is keen to join Manchester City before the winter transfer window shuts, having previously declined a move to the club as a teenager.

Pep Guardiola’s team is in dire need of a midfielder to cover for the injured Rodri, with neither Mateo Kovacic nor Ilkay Gundogan proving adequate replacements.

Fortunately for Manchester City fans, according to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, the club is optimistic about securing Gonzalez’s signature. Guardiola views the former Barcelona player as a capable temporary stand-in for Rodri.

TBR Football also reports that Manchester City anticipates Gonzalez will make an immediate impact if the deal goes through on Monday.

Given how highly the club values the 23-year-old, paying the £50 million release clause seems like a prudent move, especially with their top-four Premier League position still in jeopardy.

Guardiola has a preference for players who can adapt to various roles, much like Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Manuel Akanji have done. Gonzalez, primarily a defensive midfielder, has shown versatility at Porto this season, playing in a double pivot or in more advanced midfield roles alongside Alan Varela, contributing significantly both defensively and offensively.

Should Manchester City sign Gonzalez, his ability to fit into different tactical setups could make him a key player under Guardiola.

David Ornstein: Man City pushing for deadline day midfield transfer

Manchester City are racing against time to finalize the transfer of Porto’s Nico Gonzalez before the transfer window closes. Although no deal has been confirmed yet, discussions are in progress as City seeks to enhance their midfield for the critical end of the season.

David Ornstein from The Athletic has highlighted Gonzalez as a key target for midfield support. At 23, Gonzalez’s versatility in playing both defensive and central midfield roles aligns perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s tactical needs.

Having risen through Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Gonzalez featured in 37 matches for Barcelona before his move to Porto in 2023. At Porto, he’s become indispensable, with 68 appearances across all competitions.

The transfer negotiations are complicated by a 40% sell-on clause Barcelona still holds from Gonzalez’s €8.5 million transfer to Porto, which could impact the deal’s financial structure. With the deadline looming, City must consider these financial aspects while convincing Porto to release their midfield star.

Manchester City have already made several acquisitions this window, including defenders Vitor Reis, Juma Bah, and Abdukodir Khusanov, plus forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt. Gonzalez’s potential addition would further deepen their squad, vital for their ambitions in various competitions.

For City supporters, the idea of bringing in Gonzalez is thrilling. Known for his technical prowess and tactical understanding, he could provide the much-needed stability in a midfield often stretched by injuries and rotation needs.

His multi-positional capabilities would give Guardiola additional options in team selection, especially useful with the careful management of Kevin De Bruyne’s playing time and Rodri’s heavy defensive responsibilities. Gonzalez could be a vital rotation player for intense matches.

The main challenge lies in negotiating with Porto this late in the transfer period. If an agreement is reached, Gonzalez’s arrival might prove to be a significant boost for Manchester City in their quest for success both domestically and in Europe.

West Ham United are considering a move for 24-year-old Spanish striker Isaac Romero from Sevilla, potentially for €30 million before the transfer window closes on Monday.

According to Spanish media outlet Fichajes, Romero has caught the attention of West Ham as they seek to strengthen their forward line. The East London club has been actively looking for a new striker, and Romero has become a target due to his performances in La Liga.

Romero, a native of Lebrija, worked his way up through several local football academies before returning to Sevilla in 2019. After a stint with Sevilla’s reserve team, he made his first-team breakthrough in the 2023/24 season, becoming a regular. He’s featured in 35 matches for Sevilla, contributing nine goals and six assists, which has not gone unnoticed by European clubs, including West Ham.

The interest from West Ham makes sense given their current striker situation. With Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio sidelined for the long term, Danny Ings is their only available senior centre-forward under new manager Graham Potter. This has led West Ham to explore various options, including Romero and Eli Junior Kroupi.

However, the report does not confirm if West Ham will definitely sign Romero or whether they’ll offer the €30 million, especially since they are also close to securing a loan deal for Brighton’s Evan Ferguson.

West Ham agree to recall loan star, Graham Potter keen to use him – David Ornstein

West Ham United have decided to bring James Ward-Prowse back from his loan at Nottingham Forest, as per David Ornstein.

The Athletic’s journalist shared on X on February 2 that Ward-Prowse will return to West Ham on Deadline Day after both clubs agreed to end his loan early.

Ward-Prowse had only five Premier League starts and ten appearances overall for Forest after moving there on August 30.

New West Ham manager Graham Potter, who started on January 9, is eager to utilize Ward-Prowse as he reshapes the team, reversing the decision made by his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, who sanctioned the loan.

It’s unusual for a player to be loaned out just a year after joining a club, suggesting the transfer didn’t go as planned.

However, Ward-Prowse has more to offer at West Ham after a decent first season. Lopetegui’s choice to let him go, especially when the team needed midfield strength, seems questionable, particularly with the underwhelming performance of new signing Guido Rodriguez.

Ward-Prowse’s return is expected to improve West Ham’s midfield, especially with his renowned set-piece expertise.

Potter’s move to bring him back is seen as correcting previous mistakes by Lopetegui. Although the decision to recall him so late might indicate some urgency, additional midfield options are certainly needed at West Ham.

Since Todd Boehly’s hefty investment, Chelsea has been one of the most active teams in the transfer market. The Blues have recently shown interest in Borussia Dortmund’s winger Karim Adeyemi, a standout player who has caught the eye of several top clubs.

According to the Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Liverpool has now entered the fray to sign Adeyemi, joining Chelsea in the pursuit.

Napoli had been in talks for the German star after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s move to Paris Saint-Germain but found his price tag prohibitive, paving the way for the English clubs.

Dortmund has set Adeyemi’s valuation at around £38 million, and there’s a suggestion that he might be allowed to leave before the transfer window closes if the offer is right.

Liverpool, with their financial capability, could outbid Chelsea, especially given their current standing in competitions.

Liverpool are leading the Premier League and are in a strong position in the Champions League, which could be very appealing to Adeyemi.

At Anfield, he would join a squad with a real shot at winning titles, potentially earning two medals by the end of the 2024/25 season.

While Chelsea boasts a wealth of wing options, Liverpool’s need for new wide players is evident with the uncertain future of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Mohamed Salah, all of whom have been linked with moves away. This scenario would likely guarantee Adeyemi significant playing time at Liverpool.

Chelsea’s main advantage over Liverpool might be their financial muscle, having spent lavishly in recent transfer windows.

They could potentially offer Dortmund more money and a more lucrative deal for Adeyemi. Nevertheless, it seems increasingly likely that Adeyemi could soon make a move to the Premier League from Germany.