Sources: Man City £15m offer for Barco likely to be accepted
Man City could land young Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco for a fee of around £15million, sources have told Football Insider.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (18 September) that City are confident of agreeing a deal for the 19-year-old in January.
Barco has a release clause of around £10million in his contract with Boca, which expires in December 2024.
It is believed he could sign a new deal with the Buenos Aires outfit to protect his transfer value – but would nonetheless cost around £15million.
That fee is not likely to present an obstacle for top English sides.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Man City, Brighton and Juventus all looked into a potential move for Barco in the summer window – but a transfer failed to materialise.
And it is believed the Seagulls could push hard again to rival Pep Guardiola’s side for the signature of the left-back.
Brighton, who now have a reputation for nurturing the world’s best talent, could offer Barco a quicker pathway to first-team football in the Premier League.
But Man City remain confident of securing the youngster’s signature to resolve their left-back worries.
City lined up with new signing Josko Gvardiol at left-back in their 3-1 win over West Ham on Saturday (16 September) – with fringe star Sergio Gomez the only natural left-back on their books.
Barco, who came through the youth ranks at Boca Juniors, has made 19 appearances in this calendar year, notching one goal and two assists.
He also represented Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup earlier this year, starting three out of four games as they were eliminated in the Round of 16.
In other news, Man City star on £500,000-a-week after agreeing record deal.