Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in Manchester City right-back Yan Couto. The 22-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell with La Liga side Girona last season, contributing eight assists and scoring one goal. With City open to cashing in on the Brazilian, a move this summer appears likely.
Couto came through the youth setup of Brazilian club Coritiba. In 2019, he was included in The Guardian’s “Next Generation 2019” as one of the 60 best young talents in the world. City signed the fullback for a reported fee of £4 million in the summer of 2020. Since joining Manchester City, Couto has spent four consecutive seasons on loan, predominantly at Girona.
The youngster spent his first loan spell at Girona in the Segunda Division, playing 22 games. City wanted Couto to gain top-flight experience, so he was subsequently loaned to Braga, a top team in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. After another successful loan spell, City sent him back to Spain, this time on a two-year loan to newly promoted Girona.
Couto has become one of Girona’s integral players. He excels as a wing-back, frequently advancing to support the attack. He is pacy and a good crosser of the ball, making him an excellent player to link up with a target forward. However, he is not very strong defensively.
The Brazilian does not fit into Pep Guardiola’s system, which prefers inverted wing-backs and fullbacks. Therefore, a summer exit is highly probable for Couto, with City likely to demand a fee in the region of £20-30 million.
Couto is currently on duty with the Brazil national team at the 2024 Copa America. Reflecting on his time, he stated, “It was good, it was nice. It’s a club that has helped me grow a lot in many ways, that gives very good support and is growing not just the club, but the group. I think their project is great and we’ll see what’s in store for us next season. We’ll see everything after the Copa América.”
