Manchester City eye swap deal for Napoli star Jorginho

Manchester City could use Oleksandr Zinchenko as a makeweight in a deal to sign Jorginho from Napoli this summer, reports The Daily Mirror.

Pep Guardiola has earmarked Jorginho as a top transfer target this summer but City have been unable to agree a deal for Napoli.

The Premier League champions want to conclude a deal as quickly as possible, weary of Manchester United’s interest in the Italy international.

United have already gazumped their rivals for Alexis Sanchez and Fred in the last six months and Guardiola is determined to avoid missing out on another target.

City have already had a £44m bid turned down by Napoli and the Serie A giants are understood to be holding out for as much as £52m, but Guardiola’s side could use Zinchenko as bait to get a deal over the line.

The Ukraine international developed into an important squad player for Guardiola last season but was used at left-back, rather than his preferred forward position.

No player in Europe’s top five leagues averaged more passes per game than Jorginho last season (96.9).