Sources: Man City agree terms with Claudio Echeverri as bid accepted
Man City are expected to complete the signing of Argentine sensation Claudio Echeverri before the January window shuts, sources have told Football Insider.
The Citizens will then loan the 18-year-old back to his current club River Plate for the rest of the year.
Talks between the clubs are at an advanced stage and it is believed that Echeverri has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League champions.
City will initially pay £12million for the attacking midfielder, but River Plate could secure a higher fee if Echeverri fulfils performance-related add-ons.
The 2006-born ace is regarded as one of the best players of his age after impressive displays at club level and with Argentina Under-17s.
He made his name last November for his standout displays at the Under-17 Fifa World Cup, where he bagged a hat-trick against rivals Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Echeverri declared after he helped River Plate to Trofeo de Campeones success last month that he would not sign a new deal, with his current contract set to expire in December.
City reportedly beat La Liga giants Barcelona to Echeverri’s signature after he was reassured by the progression of Julian Alvarez, who similarly was signed from River Plate and loaned back.
Pep Guardiola’s side have a track record of securing high-potential assets, but as revealed by Football Insider (10 January), they are set to lose out on Serbian wonderkid Matija Popovic to AC Milan.
Man City sit third in the Premier League and remain five points behind Liverpool at the top of the table with a game in hand.
They next travel north to Newcastle in the league on Saturday evening (13 January).
In other news, Exclusive: Man City and Man United top scouts watch 18-year-old sensation in ‘every game’