Man City set sights on signing ‘next Ousmane Dembele’ – sources
Man City are monitoring 15-year-old wonderkid Johan Martinez ahead of the summer transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the teenager who has been likened to Ousmane Dembele has caught the eye of City scouts.
All of the top team across Europe are currently trying to identify emerging talents around the world in a bid to sign the next top star on a cheap deal and build them up.
Martinez is a 15-year-old winger who is being seen as very exciting and provides plenty of skill, which could make an impact in the Premier League.
He comes from the same youth system as Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, and team will be hoping that he’s able to follow in the footsteps of the defensive midfielder in terms of his quality.
City potentially signing Martinez would be with a view to the future as nothing can happen until he turns 18, therefore this would be a deal where he would continue to play for Independiente in Ecuador before moving to England.
He’s comfortable with the ball at both feet which is impressing people, and that is how he ended up being linked to PSG’s Dembele.
Johan Martinez ticks what Man City is looking for
City are currently in the midst of a squad overhaul after a difficult season that has seen them fail to be involved in the Premier League title race.
Pep Guardiola spent £180million during the January transfer window on new players in a bid to strengthen his squad, and the Spaniard is hoping to lower the average age of his squad moving forward.
Martinez would tick that box for Guardiola as he’s someone the club could develop and use for the long term over the years if he continues developing positively.
Man City are set for a big summer spend
It is widely expected that City will be active in the summer transfer window as the club are keen to get back to their usual levels as soon as possible.
Football Insider revealed they are set to race Tottenham in a bid to sign Adam Wharton, with the Crystal Palace star having caught the eye of top teams in the Premier League.
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