Manchester City agree €25 million deal for Argentina midfielder wanted by Chelsea and Barcelona | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City appear to have won the race to sign River Plate and Argentina youth international midfielder Claudio Echeverri.

Officials at the Etihad Stadium have been hot on the trail of a number of highly-rated youth talents from across the globe, as they look to remain ahead of their competitors when it comes to securing the services of the next best players in the game.

Alongside Echeverri, Manchester City have also been monitoring the rise and development of Boca Juniors left-back Valentin Barco, however it is now understood that the chances of that deal being completed are slim.

There is however positive news on the subject of the Argentina Under-17 World Cup captain, with the latest developments this week indicating that a deal has now crossed the finish line, despite the player not expected to join Pep Guardiola’s side until 2025 at the earliest.

According to the information of The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, Manchester City have now agreed a deal to sign River Plate and Argentina Under-17 World Cup star Claudio Echeverri in a deal worth €25 million.

The report reveals that the recently-crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions have beaten La Liga giants FC Barcelona to the signature of the highly-rated attacking midfielder, while previous reports have indicated an interest from Chelsea.

Claudio Echeverri will remain with River Plate for another year on loan as part of the deal, according to The Guardian, after Manchester City held productive talks this week following the player refusing to commit his future to the Argentina club beyond the end of 2024.

Aarons’ report further states that the teenager is expected to sign a long-term contract with Manchester City and complete his move when the January transfer window opens.

The upcoming winter transfer market is expected to be largely quiet on a first-team arrivals front at Manchester City, with no major signings expected at the halfway stage of the ongoing season.

Etihad officials are known to hold back their major business until the summer market due to financial reasons, although they could be open to a number of first-team exits and loan opportunities for young talents, should they become available.

The futures of Sergio Gomez and Kalvin Phillips in particular are understood to be uncertain, with the latter commanding interest from both Juventus and Newcastle United, while the Spanish full-back could leave if a suitable replacement is found in the coming weeks.