Monaco set to strengthen Ligue 1 title bid with move for Kompany

Monaco have targeted a move for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and the Ligue 1 big spenders are ready to open the bidding at £17 million to land the central defender.

But Blues boss Manuel Pellegrini will be desperate to hold onto the Belgium international as they continue their dual assault on both the Premier League and Champions League.

City, who are the 13/8 favourites with Ladbrokes to win the Premier League, have struggled at the heart of their defence in the absence of the injured Kompany shipping 13 goals in 11 matches in all competitions.

The Citizens’ away form has been particularly alarming, losing to both Chelsea and Sunderland, but the 27-year-old’s return coincided with a 3-2 victory against West Brom at the Hawthorns and what could turn out to be an important point at Southampton last weekend.

But Monaco, a club where money is no object, are ready to test City’s resolve to hang onto the defender and will have to make a substantial bid to have any chance of landing their man.

Reports suggest Kompany’s agent has already held preliminary discussions with the French club over a possible move but City will fight to keep the Belgian in Manchester.

But with Russian businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev, the man who backed moves to bring Radamel Falcao, Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez to the principality club, at the helm Les Rouge et Blanc could go well beyond the reported asking price to bring Kompany to the Stade Louis II.

Claudio Ranieri’s side can currently be backed at odds of 7/2 to win the Ligue 1 title and if they can prise Kompany away from the Etihad their bid to wrestle the French crown from PSG will be strengthened.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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