The reports claim a clutch of Premier League clubs are interested in the Schalke star, but the Blues have emerged as favourites for the left-back.
TalkSPORT report: “Manchester City are leading the chase to land Chelsea and West Ham target Sead Kolasinac.
“The two London clubs have been strongly linked with the Schalke defender, who is out of contract in the summer.
“However SportBild has claimed that it is City who are out in front of their Premier League rivals in the race to land him and could be ready to make their move in January.
“Schalke will not want to lose him for nothing at the end of the season so are likely to accept a knock-down price for the left back when the transfer window opens.”
Italian Football Daily also link City with the player, though they claim Roma are also keen: “Roma have been interested in adding him to their depleted backline in January. His contract with Schalke 04 expires as the end of the season.
“Kolasinac has played in Germany his entire career, starting off with Karlsruhe before moving to Stuttgart and then eventually Schalke.
“Since debuting for Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2013, he’s gone on to be capped 22 times, including playing twice in the World Cup in Brazil. But Roma face competition from Manchester City for his signature.”
Elsewhere, Andrea Pirlo admits he regrets not playing for Pep Guardiola who was keen to sign the Italian star six years ago.
Outside90 write: “New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo says he rues missing the opportunity to have played under Pep Guardiola, during the Manchester City manager’s time at Barcelona.
“Pirlo emerged as a target for Guardiola’s side back in 2010, but AC Milan would not allow the now 37-year-old to make the move to the Nou Camp.
“And Pirlo says he was tempted to make the move when he became aware of Barcelona’s interest.
‘How did I feel when he wanted to sign me? How could you not want to go there?’ he told Marca Plus.
‘We were facing the best team in the world [in a preseason friendly at the Camp Nou] and he told me he wanted me in the team. He met me in his office after the game, we spoke for a long time.’
“If the former Italian international had made the move to Spain he would have worked alongside who he regards as the best manager in football.
‘Pep as a coach? He’s No. 1, without a doubt,’ he added. ‘Look at what he did with Barcelona and also Bayern Munich. Above all, he’s a person I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, I admire and respect.’
Finally, and a story that will run and run until the player retires, another claim that Lionel Messi would choose City if he ever left the Nou Camp – which seems highly unlikely
Still, it’s always nice to be linked with the very best and in this snippet, the Daily Express (quoting The Sun (!)), believe if Leo ever did leave, the Blues would be favourites because of the Pep connection.
They write: ”The Barcelona superstar is currently under contract with the Catalan giants until 2018, but negotiations over a new deal are currently at a standstill.
“With Pep Guardiola, Messi’s former boss, at Manchester City, the Argentine forward has been linked with a reunion at the Etihad.
“United also wouldn’t rule out a move for the 29-year-old and they’d be able to match his wage demands.
“But while Manchester United chiefs reckon they can compete with City on a financial basis, the prospect of Lionel Messi reuniting with Guardiola is something they can’t offer.
“An Old Trafford source told The Sun: ‘City would be the favourites if he were to one day leave, but we would obviously love to sign a player of that level.’
More of the same tomorrow morning…
