Manchester City are considering offering Juventus €60m (£51m) for Leonardo Bonucci. Pep Guardiola, the City head coach, is a keen admirer of the centre-back and described him in February as “one of my favourite ever players” following Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League.

Juventus do not want to sell Bonucci but a bid in the region of €60m may be difficult for the Serie A champions to reject.

Guardiola views the defender as an automatic first choice should he be signed. Bonucci impressed in Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign, and would bring technical ability and vast experience to City’s side.

Bonucci has 62 caps, has won five Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia medals, and is also a losing Champions League finalist, having played in the team that lost to Barcelona in 2015. At Juventus he forms part of the so-called BBC – an admired trio of centre-backs alongside Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini.

The position is one of the key weakness identified in the City squad by Guardiola. There is serious concern regarding Vincent Kompany, the captain, because of what appears a chronic calf problem and various other injury issues, and Guardiola is aware he may not be able to rely on him.

With Martín Demichelis having departed, the other options are Eliaquim Mangala, the 25-year-old who has disappointed since joining from Porto for £42m two years ago, Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi, and the untested Jason Denayer. The 21-year-old has never played for City, and has spent the past two seasons on loan at Celtic and Galatasaray.