Manchester City are reportedly willing to spend up to £80m in order to bring Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Pep Guardiola is understood to have made defensive reinforcements his number one priority when the transfer market reopens, having seen his side suffer from the departure of Vincent Kompany and injuries to Aymeric Laporte this season.
Inter's Skriniar is reportedly City's number one target, and the Daily Express reports that Guardiola has given the green light to spend as much as £80m on the 25-year-old.
City failed with a £55m bid for Skriniar last summer but are expected to increase their offer this time around in order to fend off interest from Real Madrid.
The Premier League outfit have also been linked with the likes of Caglar Soyuncu and Nathan Ake ahead of an expected overhaul of their defensive unit this summer.
Skriniar has helped Inter Milan's Antonio Conte challenge for their first Serie A title since 2010 this season, with the Nerazzurri boasting the best defensive record in the division.
Barney Corkhill
