Manchester City are reported to have edged Barcelona in the race for 17-year-old right-back Yan Couto, having trebled the Catalan giants' offer for the Coritiba starlet.
Couto is as under-the-radar as they come, and is yet to make his senior breakthrough for the Brazilian Serie B side, but has made his name at youth level for his country and is widely regarded as one of the hottest prospects in South America.
He caught the eye at the Under-17 World Cup last year, starring as Brazil were crowned champions against Mexico on home turf, and has been on the radar of City and Barcelona - as well as a host of top European clubs - ever since.
#Barca | Se olvidan de Yan Couto, que fichará por el City
— Diario SPORT (@sport) January 31, 2020
https://t.co/sPCqmZIrgo pic.twitter.com/agZgQqcMu1
The line in Spain had previously been that Barcelona were closing in on a €4m move for the defender, who penned his first professional deal in 2018.
Bizarrely, however, Mundo Deportivo now report that negotiations have escalated seemingly overnight. Those terms had been deemed acceptable by Coritiba, but for whatever reason City are now said to have put an offer in the region of €12m on the table, thought to consist largely of performance-based add-ons.
Couto was being lined up as 'the next Dani Alves' in Spain, presumably due to his diminutive stature, nationality and proficiency in attack, so it's abundantly clear City are getting a special talent for their money - even if they will have to be patient before seeing him in the first team.
Yan Couto (17) will sign for Manchester City in a deal worth €12 million - three times the price offered by Barcelona.
— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 31, 2020
[@mundodeportivo] pic.twitter.com/QzAsuiqV6w
Brazilian transfer regulations prohibit him from leaving before his 18th birthday, meaning 3 June is the earliest he can officially become a City player.
If he does indeed head to City, he will not be short of compatriots to help him settle in. Goalkeeper Ederson and striker Gabriel Jesus fly the flag for Brazil in the blue half of Manchester, as does the experienced Fernandinho, who signed a one-year contract extension earlier this week.
For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter!
Source : 90min