Manchester City offered world-record £50m deal for Juventus defender

Manchester City have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Italy international star Leonardo Bonucci this summer, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The Premier League side, who host Sunderland on the opening day of the new 2016/17 English top-flight campaign on August 13, have been linked with a move for the Juventus centre-half.

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The 29-year-old, who has 62 international caps for his country and starred for Italy as Antonio Conte’s former side reached the quarter-finals of this summer’s European Championships in France, scored three goals and provided two assists in 49 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A champions last season.

Bonucci, who began his senior career at Italian rivals Inter Milan, has been described as one of new Citizens boss Pep Guardiola’s “favourite ever players.”

The report suggests that Juve have contacted City about a deal for the defender, with the Serie A giants valuing the player at around £50m – a potential transfer fee that would match David Luiz’s world record figure of £50m following his exit from Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain back in 2014.