Manchester City 'fail with big-money Milan Skriniar bid'

Manchester City have reportedly failed with a €70m (£58.6m) offer for Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar.

Aymeric Laporte has recently returned from a long-term knee injury to ease City's problems at the back, but the Premier League champions have struggled in a defensive area this season.

According to Calciomercato, City launched an offer worth close to £60m for Skriniar 'in recent months' but were informed that it would take 'in excess' of €90m (£75.4m) to sign the Slovakia international.

Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old, who has made 31 appearances in all competitions for Antonio Conte's side during the 2019-20 campaign.

Skriniar only signed a new deal at San Siro in the middle of 2019 and has a contract with his Italian club until the end of the 2022-23 season.

John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi have both struggled for consistency this term, which has seen Fernandinho operate as a central defender on a regular basis.