- Man City interested in Brazilian youngster
- Chance to agree £34m deal
- Player receiving interest from European clubs
Manchester City are now the most likely club to sign a Brazilian wonderkid who has been attracting multiple clubs in the Premier League and across Europe.
Brazil has been a transfer market often explored by Manchester City in recent years. More specifically, the club have identified young talents who play for Palmeiras.
Gabriel Jesus was signed from the South American outfit nine years ago, a player who scored 58 goals in 159 Premier League appearances for Man City.
Most recently, the Citizens brought Vitor Reis from Palmeiras to the Etihad Stadium, the promising young defender currently on loan at Girona.
Man City lead the race to sign Eduardo Conceicao
ESPN Brasil have reported that Man City are leading the way in their pursuit of another Palmeiras teenager.
Pep Guardiola’s team are looking to ‘close the net’ to prevent other clubs from approaching Eduardo Conceicao, an attacker with eight goals in 13 appearances this season.
City want a deal agreed as soon as possible and are willing to pay a fee in the region of £34m to secure his services.
However, Chelsea and PSG are in contact with people close to the player on a daily basis, while Barcelona have renewed interest after previously exiting the race.
Currently, directors from several European clubs are in Paraguay to communicate with Conceicao’s staff. He is representing the Brazilian national team at the South American Under-17 Championship.
Conceicao is a versatile attacker
Guardiola likes an attacker who is able to operate in different positions across the frontline. Take Antoine Semenyo for example. The goal machine spent much of his time at Bournemouth on the left wing, but has been playing in attacking midfield for Man City.
Conceicao himself is a left winger, but has already played in a midfield role this season, showing his ability to be flexible.
In just three matches at the under-17s Championship, Conceicao has bagged two goals and two assists, showing his threat no matter which position he plays.
Man City will have to be patient
Even if City do end up signing Conceicao, the starlet is not allowed to officially make the move to Europe until he is 18.
Therefore, as Conceicao only turned 16 in December, there is still a long wait before he can be lining up for Man City.
And yet right now, that is the least of their worries. Palmeiras have already rejected a £21.5m bid for the winger, whose contract includes a release clause of £86m.
Additionally, they are looking to oversee a transition which will see Conceicao move from their under-20s set-up to the first-team.
With little reason to sell immediately, Palmeiras will be a tough negotiator and City have by no means won the race yet. Therefore, there is work to be done by Hugo Viana and the club hierarchy.
