Manchester City may have to break their transfer record to sign Fernandinho.
Having relinquished their grip on the Premier League title to rivals United, and failing to progress past the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for a second successive season, Roberto Mancini is expected to add to his squad during the coming weeks.
One of the main reasons why the Blues have failed to build on their success of last season is their inability to sign any of their leading targets in the summer transfer window, most notably Robin van Persie who left Arsenal to play a leading role at Old Trafford.
Mancini will look to avoid a repeat of this ahead of next season, and he has already identified Fernandinho as a priority. The Brazilian international has been linked with a move to England in the past, with both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur thought to have failed with bids for his signature during the course of the last 12 months.
Reports earlier this week suggested City were closing on a deal for the midfielder, who joined Shakhtar Donetsk back in 2005 when he was aged just 20. He has gone on to help the Donbass Arena club win five league titles, three Ukrainian Cups and the Uefa Cup, and he also has experience of playing in the UEFA Champions League.
It had been reported that the Etihad Stadium club were set to pay around £24million for the 27-year-old, who has been likened to Yaya Toure. However, Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu has told PRO TV that there is no such deal in place, and as the player remains under contract for another three years, the FA Cup finalists would have to meet his release clause of £42.3million if they are to add him to their squad.
“If City want to [sign Fernandinho], the clause is €50 million [£42.3 million],” said the Romanian, meaning the Blues may have to top their current transfer record of a reported £38million, which they paid Atletico Madrid for Sergio Aguero two years ago.
