Manchester City will prepare to move for West Ham United's Declan Rice if Fernandinho leaves this summer, according to a report.
Fernandinho produced a man-of-the-match display against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in midweek, but his Etihad deal is due to expire at the end of next month.
City are supposedly willing to offer the 36-year-old a 12-month extension given his influence on and off the pitch, but it remains to be seen if he will agree to that proposal.
According to The Times, should Fernandinho decide against extending his Etihad deal, Pep Guardiola has identified West Ham lynchpin Rice as an ideal replacement.
Rice also continues to be linked with a move to City's arch-rivals Manchester United, but West Ham manager David Moyes has previously affirmed that the 22-year-old is not for sale.
Rice was an ever-present player in West Ham's setup before sustaining a knee injury, and he is facing a race to be fit before the current campaign concludes.
Ben Knapton
