According to rumors, personal agreements have been reached with the teenage Brazilian center-back Vitor Reis of Palmeiras, indicating that Manchester City is moving quickly in their pursuit of the player. Abdukodir Khusanov, a defender for Lens, is still on their desire list for the January transfer window.
Manchester City's quest for dominance is showing no signs of slowing down, as the Premier League giants edge closer to securing a formidable center-back pairing in a staggering €80 million deal. As Pep Guardiola's side looks to strengthen their backline.
With six league losses from the beginning of November to Christmas alone, City's grasp on the Premier League abruptly ended as autumn gave way to winter. That is more losses in a seven-week period than in the previous three Premier League seasons combined.
Nine players on the squad are 30 years of age or older, and three more are already 29. Age is beginning to set in. By the time he recovers from his accident, Rodri will also be a member of that elder group.
Reis and Khusanov have been identified as January targets in a number of sources, including one from BBC Sport. They are both center backs who are just beginning their football careers.
A potential deal that is deemed "ready" was originally disclosed by UOL, who also disclosed that an agreement had been reached with Reis and his agency. A €40 million (£33.5 million) contract is being negotiated with Palmeiras in the hopes that it will be finalized before competing bidders get involved.
Reis is another product of Palmeiras' production line, which has lately produced Endrick and Chelsea-bound Estevao Willian. He will turn 19 at the end of this month. In January 2017, City had previously worked with the Brazilian team to get a teenage Gabriel Jesus.
Khusanov is a little older at 20. He joined RC Lens from Belarusian team Energetik-BGU in 2023 and has been based in France ever then. At €40 million, the Uzbek international would be the first player from the central Asian nation to play in the Premier League. The Athletic State City is attempting to sign him before teams like Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur do.
Additionally, City is still linked to Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala, who is in the final 18 months of his contract, and Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Omar Marmoush, who is valued at £50 million.
This winter will be the final one that longtime football director Txiki Begiristain manages before he retires and turns the reins over to Hugo Viana, his prearranged successor.
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