Manchester City have regularly been linked with Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli in recent months and his recent admission about wanting to join a top club could certainly work in the Citizens' favour this summer if they make an official approach for the Italian.

Fabrizio Romano suggested on his Here We Go podcast earlier this year that City want to lure the midfielder to the Etihad Stadium this summer as he continues to impress in Serie A and with the Italian national side.

It now seems as if the 23-year-old is keen to depart I Neroverdi this summer, as he recently admitted to Corriere dello Sport (via Romano on Twitter): “I feel ready for a top club and also joining a foreign club is a potential option for me, why not? When there are opportunities, I will think about my future”.

Locatelli's agent has previously confirmed Manchester City's interest in his client, so perhaps the Citizens are the foreign club he mentions in his quote?

In 26 Serie A appearances so far this season, the Italian has contributed three goals and one assist, averaging an impressive 7.09 WhoScored rating for his performances, which rates him as Roberto De Zerbi's second-best player in the Italian top flight so far this season.

Locatelli has also produced two superb performances for Italy in World Cup qualifying, scoring in the 2-0 win against Bulgaria before contributing an assist in the 2-0 win against Lithuania.

With Sassuolo currently occupying eighth place in Serie A, it seems unlikely that Locatelli will be playing European football any time soon if he stays where he is, and his performances in recent seasons certainly justify him getting a chance at a club such as Manchester City.

With Fernandinho likely to leave in the summer when his contract expires, City will need to add some squad depth in midfield, and the £31.5m-rated Locatelli could prove to be the ideal option for Pep Guardiola's side this summer.

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