No return for former academy man
Manchester City have ruled out any move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha this summer, according to Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News.
The German international, who came through City's academy before making his name in the Bundesliga, had been linked with a return to the Etihad. Intermediaries reportedly approached City — alongside Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal — about the possibility of signing Nmecha from Dortmund, as first reported by Graeme Bailey for TeamTalk.
City, though, have now taken themselves out of the running.
Search continues for midfield reinforcements
The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders remain in the market for another midfielder, with Newcastle's Sandro Tonali and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi understood to be among the most likely targets. Whether either deal materialises — or whether sporting director Hugo Viana has someone else in mind — remains to be seen.
City are close to completing a deal for Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, which would address part of the midfield rebuild. But the club still want another body in the middle of the park, and Nmecha can now be taken off the board entirely.
Nmecha's playing style and physical attributes would seem suited to the Premier League, and his performances for Germany at the ongoing World Cup suggested he could slot into a top-flight midfield. But according to Bajkowski's report, City simply have no interest in bringing him back.
So the search goes on.