Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 7y

Aleksandar Kolarov seals Roma move; Man City eye new centre-back - source

Manchester City are set to bring in an extra central defender as cover after allowing Aleksandar Kolarov to move to Roma, sources have told ESPN FC.

But captain Vincent Kompany has convinced City boss Pep Guardiola that he doesn't need to bring in an expensive new signing and that he can be a major part of his plans this season.

Kolarov completed a £5.25 million transfer to Italian club Roma on Saturday night, leaving Guardiola short of a central defender.

Serbia international Kolarov, 31, signed a three-year contract with Roma until 2020 after seven seasons at City, where he won the Premier League twice.

"I am extremely happy to be here," Kolarov said. "I will give 100 percent and more for Roma. My objective is always the same: to win."

City were interested in Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci before his £37m move from Juventus to Milan as well as Southampton's Virgil van Dijk, who could cost around £60m.

But they are not now set to move for a frontline defender and hope that Kompany has put his injury problems behind him and can be a regular starter this season.

The Belgium international was hugely influential at the centre of defence when he started City's final eight games of the season as they secured a top-three Champions League place.

He also looked impressive in their first game of preseason -- the International Champions Cup match against Manchester United in Houston on Thursday -- despite City losing 2-0.

Kompany, 31, has been troubled by persistent injury problems for the past two seasons -- missing 80 of City's 115 games in all competitions.

But with wholesale changes to the defence, Guardiola is prepared to make him a key man in the centre of defence to play alongside John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.

City allowed their three full-backs to leave at the end of last season and have already brought in Tottenham's Kyle Walker with Real Madrid's Danilo and Monaco's Benjamin Mendy set to follow shortly.

Mendy is set to fly to Los Angeles this weekend to complete his medical and join up with the first team squad after agreeing personal terms with the club, while Zinedine Zidane confirmed Danilo has already left Real Madrid.

^ Back to Top ^