Manchester City star Bernardo Silva has announced his decision to leave the Etihad when his contract expires in June.
The Premier League side have to bring in a replacement for the 31-year-old in the summer.
Recent claims have presented Girona’s Azzedine Ounahi as an option for Manchester City.
Last week, Sport Witness covered claims from Spain explaining why the 26-year-old could be a good candidate to replace Silva.
A calf injury forced him to spend close to two months of this season on the sidelines. The Morocco international has managed five goals and three assists in 19 matches so far.
His La Liga stats this season are as follows:
Appearances: 19
Starts: 15
Total minutes: 1,346
Minutes per game: 71
Goals: 5
Assists: 3
Expected Goals: 2.76
Expected Assists: 2.86
Big chances created: 7
Goal conversion: 13%
Manchester City concern for Girona
Monday’s edition of Sport looks at the possibility of Azzedine Ounahi leaving the Catalan club for the Citizens and what it could mean for the former.
Manchester City owners, the City Football Group, are co-owners of Girona. This, coupled with the player’s €20m release clause would make it easy for the English club to sign him.
Savinho spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Girona from Troyes, another club owned by the City Football Group. His performances for the La Liga side saw Manchester City buy him in July 2024.
The Brazilian winger was a key member of the Girona squad under manager, Míchel, but moved to England.
Sport state: ‘History seems to be repeating itself at Montilivi: as happened with Savinho, the Girona team’s great playmaker is set to head to the Etihad Stadium this summer.’
Pep Guardiola’s side ‘want to repeat’ the plan they used for Savinho to sign Ounahi, by skipping initial steps.
The latter relaunched his career at Girona, after struggles at both Marseille and Panathinaikos. Manchester City are now looking at him to be part of their project next season.
Over the past few years, Míchel has seen key players leave at the end of every season. The report states: ‘If those at the Etihad see Ounahi as the ideal replacement for Bernardo Silva, Girona’s room for maneuver will be minimal.’
Míchel’s contract lasts until June and the Moroccan’s potential sale to Manchester City could complicate his renewal.
Contract, value and agent info
Azzedine Ounahi has a contract until 2030, and Transfermarkt value him at €10m, which is half of his release clause.
Agency AS1 are representing the Girona star, and their client list includes Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz, Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and several other players.