According to a report in Italian publication Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), Manchester City are in the ‘front row’ to sign Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Dani Olmo after Pep Guardiola requested his signing. The Citizens will, however, face stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona and Juventus in the pursuit of the 21-year-old’s signature.
With club legend David Silva likely to depart at the end of this current campaign it’s thought that City will be in the market for an attacking-midfielder and Olmo is firmly on Pep Guardiola’s wish list.
TIF Tactics – Who is Dani Olmo
Olmo, who is valued at £27m by TransferMarkt, is a product of the Barcelona youth academy but made the move to Croatia in 2014 and has since been promoted to the first-team. Despite his tender age, the midfielder has already won three Croatian titles, three Croatian cups and was a part of the Spanish squad that won the European Under 21 Championship earlier this year.
The player has made 102 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb in league competition, scoring 22 goals – making him a one-in-five man. But his ability to create goals and lay on chances for his teammates should not go unnoticed. Olmo has provided an impressive 17 assists during that time.
When players move abroad at such a young age they can often escape the attention of their national team set up, but in the former Barcelona player’s case, his impressive work has led to him being regarded as one of the Spanish games hottest prospects.
If City are to go head to head with some of Europe’s biggest clubs for his services then surely the Pep Guardiola factor will stand them in good stead – the Catalan hero’s presence in Manchester could prove key.