Manchester City will try to land Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez this month but must pay his full €32m release clause, according to reports in Spain.
The 26-year-old with a move to Barcelona this summer before the Catalan giants reportedly pulled the plug on a deal but while the central defender remained with La Real but Diario Sport suggests Pep Guardiola has now prioritised his signing.
The English Premier League leaders have reportedly spoken to Samuel Umtiti but are not confident the French defender has any desire to leave the Camp Nou.
Previous reports suggested Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk had been the club’s number one defensive option due to his adaptability to the English game, but he has since signed for Liverpool.
West Brom’s Jonny Evans is said to be another option, while the return of John Stones from injury may end the club’s search, but no firm executive decision has yet been made.
Martinez has amassed 202 La Liga appearances for the Basques since his debut in 2011 and his current deal at the club runs until June 2021.
Part of Spain’s Under-21 European Championship winning side in 2013, Martinez has gone on to be capped four times at senior level for La Roja.
