Atletico Madrid left-back Renan Lodi has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester City, according to a report.
The 24-year-old has been on the books at the Wanda Metropolitano for the past three years since leaving Athletico Paranaense for a £19.6m fee, immediately establishing himself as a regular under Diego Simeone.
Lodi has come up with six goals and nine assists in 119 appearances for Atletico across all competitions and made 32 La Liga appearances during their triumphant 2020-21 La Liga campaign.
The Brazil international ended the 2021-22 season with four goals and five assists to show from 42 matches and locked horns with Man City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Lodi's contract with Simeone's side still has another three years left to run, and his form meant that January arrival Reinildo was often shifted to the centre of defence.
With Man City seeking reinforcements in the left-back area during the summer window, The Telegraph claims that Lodi is a name on their radar.
Pep Guardiola's side allowed Oleksandr Zinchenko to join Arsenal in a £32m deal earlier this summer, while Benjamin Mendy is still suspended by the Premier League champions.
As a result, Joao Cancelo has started the season as Man City's first-choice left-back, which in turn has left Kyle Walker short of cover on the right-hand side of the backline.
Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are capable of filling in on the left-hand side, but Guardiola is keen to bolster his options in that area before the summer window closes for business.
City are understood to be closing in on the signing of Spain Under-21 international Sergio Gomez for an £11m fee from Anderlecht, but the ex-Barcelona youngster could be loaned out to Girona for the 2022-23 season.
With Gomez viewed as a future prospect, a more senior left-back option is high on the Citizens' wishlist after they allowed Chelsea to swoop for Marc Cucurella in a £62m deal.
Having allowed Arsenal to take Zinchenko off their hands, there have been claims that City could now try to glean a measure of revenge by striking a deal for Kieran Tierney.
The Scotland international is facing an uphill battle to regain his spot in the team following his knee injury and was left out of the first XI for Friday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Nuno Tavares will also return from his loan spell at Marseille next summer to increase the competition at left-back, but Tierney only signed an extension with the Gunners until 2026 last year.
Borussia Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro is also thought to be on Man City's radar, with the Portugal international due to become a free agent at the end of the season.
For the time being, Cancelo is set to continue at left-back as the champions welcome newly-promoted Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. body check tags ::
