City delay move for Atletico defender until the summer

Manchester City will look to sign Atletico Madrid starlet Lucas Hernandez but will not attempt to land the defender until the end of the season, reports The Independent.

Pep Guardiola is willing to stick with the same set of defenders that have undermined progress under the Spaniard in recent months before making a summer move for £20m-rated defender Hernandez.

Atletico president Miguel Angel Gil Marin has already revealed City failed in their attempts to sign Hernandez and his 19-year-old left-back brother during the summer but appeared to hint the Spanish side would be willing to sell both defenders in the future.

Rather than look desperate and sign a defender this month, the City manager is happy to work with what he has even if it means continuing with Nicolas Otamendi, whom he holds reservations over, while John Stones still has development to do.

Hernandez, meanwhile, has only made 12 starts in La Liga during his short career, while his brother is currently on loan at Alaves, where he has already started 14 times and is currently their fourth highest rated player (6.99). Not only that, but the teenager has completed more dribbles than any other Alaves player in the league this season (27).

For more stats on Lucas Hernandez, click her to visit his WhoScored player page