Manchester City transfer news: Pep Guardiola keen to sign teenager Thiago Almada dubbed the ‘new Lionel Messi’
Almada, 17 is a regular starter for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina's Primera Division and City are willing to pay £20m
Manchester City are hopeful of signing Argentine teenager Thiago Almada in a £20million deal, according to reports.
Almada, who turns 18 on Friday, is the latest South American to be dubbed the 'new Lionel Messi' and starts regularly for Velez Sarsfield in Argentina's Primera Division.
Reports suggest Pep Guardiola has sent scouts to watch Almada and he is one of the City boss' top targets.
The Premier League side are prepared to sign him for a huge fee, despite his age, in order to get him a work permit if they can do the deal, according to The Sun.
However, should City fail to secure a work permit, they would loan Almada to Spanish partners club Ginoa, who they will use quite regularly in the next couple of years as part of the plan to capture the next crop of talented players.
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Almada has shown is versatility going forward, playing out wide and centrally, but is predominantly an attacking midfielder.
This season, Almada who has been causing plenty of excitement in his homeland, has made 16 appearances for the club, scoring three goals with a further two assists as well.