MANCHESTER CITY will keep tabs on Napoli full-back Faouzi Ghoulam after he impressed at the Etihad during the week.
Pep Guardiola had made cover at left-back one of his top priorities for next summer. And the recent long-term injury to Benjamin Mendy has made his need for reinforcements even greater.
City know Ghoulam is into the final year of his contract with the Serie A leaders.
That means he will be available on a free next summer. Napoli could also be tempted by a cash offer for the Algerian, 26, in January as he looks unlikely to sign a fresh deal. Ghoulam was key to a second half fightback by Maurizio Sarri's men on Tuesday night and won the penalty which gave the visitors a lifeline.
Pep Guardiola will be able to have another look at him when the two teams meet again in Naples in 10 days’ time. City moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday with victory over Burnley.
Sergio Aguero wrote his name into the City record books as he became the club’s joint leading goalscorer of all-time. The Etihad hero stroked home a first half spot-kick to go level with Eric Brook on 177 – a record that has stood for 78 years.
Yet the award of the spot-kick – for a foul on Bernardo Silva – was controversial and left Burnley fuming.
However it set Pep Guardiola’s men for an 11th straight win – the first time the club has done that in a single season. Nicolas Otamendi’s thumping header from Leroy Sane’s corner just squirmed through the legs of Steven Defour on the line to make it two.
And minutes later a trademark De Bruyne pass sent Sane racing clear to finish emphatically and put the result beyond any doubt.
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