Valencia identify Manchester City centre-back as preferred summer signing

Valencia identify Manchester City centre-back as preferred summer signing Valencia have identified Vitor Reis as one of two preferred options to strengthen their defence Man City’s current position is that they are not considering letting the Brazilian leave The situation could change as the transfer window progresses ahead of the 2026-27 season Manchester City could yet face further transfer interest from La Liga this summer despite a clear intention to retain the services of highly-rated centre-back Vitor Reis. Vitor Reis has emerged as one of the more compelling young defenders at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival from Palmeiras , with his composure on the ball and comfort playing out from the back making him an increasingly attractive option for clubs across Europe seeking that specific profile of centre-back. The Brazilian’s situation at Manchester City has been the subject of growing speculation throughout the summer window, with interest from Spain now adding a further layer of complexity to a position Enzo Maresca is understood to view as an important part of his defensive plans heading into the new season. Revealed: Enzo Maresca’s Man City plans for Girona loan duo Vitor Reis and Claudio Echeverri Maresca has been working closely alongside director of football Hugo Viana as the pair continue to shape the squad ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, with the futures of several defensive options still being assessed even as fresh suitors emerge for individual players within that unit. Reis’s situation is one such case, with the 20-year-old’s progress at Manchester City having reached a stage where his long-term role in Maresca’s plans is now coming under closer scrutiny from outside the club as well as within it. Report: Valencia and Real Madrid target eyed alongside Reis According to Tribuna Deportiva , Valencia have identified Reis as one of two preferred options to strengthen the right side of their centre-back positions this summer, with the report translated and relayed by Sport Witness . The report explains that Valencia are searching specifically for a right-footed centre-back comfortable playing out from the back, with the club’s sporting director and staff said to be in agreement over Reis and Real Madrid ‘s Joan Martínez as their two leading candidates for the role. That Reis finds himself mentioned alongside a player contracted to one of Spanish football’s most prestigious clubs underlines the regard in which he is held within Spain, even as his game time at Manchester City has remained limited relative to more established options in the squad. Valencia’s pursuit is understood to be in its early stages, with no indication yet that a formal approach has been made to Manchester City, though the report’s specificity around the club’s defensive requirements suggests genuine interest rather than speculative interest from a distance. Barcelona sporting director makes Man City contact over Vitor Reis after Girona relegation What does Valencia interest mean for Vitor Reis’ Man City future? Manchester City’s current position, according to the report, is that they are not considering letting Reis leave the Etihad Stadium at this stage, with Maresca said to be actively trying to keep the Brazilian as part of his squad heading into next season. That stance reflects the value Maresca and Viana are understood to place on Reis’s long-term potential, with the 20-year-old viewed internally as a defender capable of growing into a key role rather than one whose immediate future lies away from Manchester City. The report does, however, acknowledge that the situation could change as the summer transfer window progresses, leaving open the possibility that Valencia’s interest develops into something more concrete should circumstances shift in the coming weeks. Whether Reis ultimately remains part of Maresca’s plans for the season ahead or finds his path blocked by the broader competition for places in defence, his situation looks set to remain one of the more closely watched subplots of Manchester City’s summer as the transfer window enters its final stages.