Manchester City Close in on Argentine Wonder-kid, Thiago Almada

Premier League champions, Manchester City are reportedly closing in on Argentine wonderkid Thiago Almada.

The deal for the mid fielder is expected to be around £16 million in South America. Almada currently plays for Velez Sarsfield.

It is difficult to imagine a teenager to break into the star studded Manchester City’s line up unless he is a Kylian Mbappe. Almada, 18, is reported to be loaned to Sporting Lisbon if he completes the move to Manchester City.

It should be a dream move for the teenage attacking mid fielder whose idol is former Manchester City star Carlos Tevez.

He represented his nation’s under-20s at the age of 17 and made his debut in Argentina’s Primera Division when he was 17 years and four months old.

Standing just 5 ft 5 in tall, Thiago Almada is often compared to another Argentine who is aslo not very tall. Almada is believed to be the next ‘Lionel Messi’ for Argentina and is often quoted as one of the next generation stars.

He made 21 appearances for Velez Sarsfield last season, and netted four times.

Almada recently rejected a new contract which would have seen his release clause go up to £23 million. Manchester City are understood to trigger the current release clause with £16 million bid.

Whle Manchester City have won one of the most exhilarating title races against Liverpool last season, Pep Guardiola’s men were thrown out of the Champions League in a heart breaking fashion by Tottenham Hotspurs, who finished the tournament as runner up.

For two successive seasons, City have won the Premier League, but were eliminated from the Champions League by a Premier League. Though Manchester City have a relatively young and a pretty deep squad, they are looking to add a young mid-fielder might come as a surprise. Perhaps, he is seen as a long term replacement for David Silva.