Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi remains a target for West Ham this summer, but the east London side could find a deal to bring the defender to the London Stadium too expensive.

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TNT Sports report that Manuel Pellegrini is keen to be reunited with his former Argentine defender, with Manuel Lanzini also a friend of Otamendi’s, but any deal to bring the former Valencia centre-back to the English capital could be scuffed due to financial problems.

The report states that City are looking for €25m (£22.89m) for the centre-back whilst also claiming that former side Valencia are also interested in the defender this summer.

Despite being named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2017/18 Premier League season (per BBC Sport), Otamendi was relegated to a rotation role for the 2018/19 campaign as City retained the league title, with the Argentine making just 14 starts for the Cityzens in the league (per Transfermarkt).

Indeed, this lack of playing time last season has seen the Argentine linked with a move away from the Etihad this summer, with the Daily Mail reporting in May that Wolves, as well as West Ham, were interested in the defender following the aftermath of Vincent Kompany’s departure from City, but this could be the reason as to why Guardiola should consider keeping Otamendi.

With no centre-back signings as of yet, City only have three senior central defenders in the first-team squad plus outcast Eliaquim Mangala (per Transfermarkt) with just over a week of the transfer window left to go, and although Otamendi was reduced to limited appearances last season, Pep Guardiola will seemingly be brash to sell the Argentine to West Ham with so little numbers at the back.

After a season of playing second-choice, it is understandable as to why Otamendi has caught the eye of some clubs in both the Premier League and across Europe, however, with only John Stones and Aymeric Laporte to choose from in central defence with Eliaquim Mangala set to leave City again this summer according to the Sun, Guardiola will be wise to retain the Argentinian.

With City looking to retain the Premier League for a third season in a row, strength in depth will be crucial for Guardiola, and Otamendi has proven that he is a more than capable defender in the English top-flight.

Manchester City fans, what would you do with Otamendi this summer? Let us know!