- 18-year-old star is also wanted by Brighton but their offer is too low at present
- Man City are keen to add a number of new recruits to Pep Guardiola’s squad
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Manchester City have held further talks with Palmeiras over a £25million deal for Vitor Reis, 18, after Mail Sport reported that the English champions were aiming to secure the signature of the Brazilian teenage star.
The centre-back is also wanted by Brighton but Palmeiras want £35m, with the south coast club having previously made an offer of only £23m.
The 18-year-old is regarded as one of the best defensive prospects in South America and is attracting interest from a host of club’s from around Europe and the Premier League.
Brighton have enjoyed a strong first half of the season under new manager Fabian Hurzeler with the club currently sitting 10th in the Premier League standings and have ambitions to climb up the standings.
They are now targeting a move for Reis who has impressed after breaking into Palmeiras’ first-team with the Brazilian youngster making 18 Serie A appearances this season.
City’s incumbent sporting director Txiki Begiristain met up with his successor Hugo Viana on Wednesday, as Man City look to add two or three signings to their squad this window to breathe fresh life into Pep Guardiola‘s set-up and increase competition after a difficult first half of the season.
Manchester City have held further talks with Vitor Reis of Palmeiras in a bid to win his signature
Pep Guardiola is keen to refresh his squad during the January window with two or three players
The Premier League champions have badly struggled in the absence of Rodri due to injury – and embarked on a disastrous run of one win in 13 games before they picked up back-to-back victories over the festive period.
City are close to signing Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov and Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
Mail Sport first revealed City’s interest in Marmoush in December and the Egypt international is eager for the move to go through to the Premier League champions.
Frankfurt are reluctant sellers, particularly in the winter window, and had hoped to keep hold of the 25-year old who has scored 18 goals in 24 appearances this season.
Liverpool and Arsenal have also been following Marmoush but have not followed up their interest and City are willing to pay around £50m for a player who can play across the frontline or behind the striker.
But as well as incomings, Man City are preparing for outgoings, and defender Max Alleyne has emerged as a target for Borussia Dortmund.
Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush is a forward that Man City are willing to pay £50million for
The Manchester club also have Abdukodir Khusanov in their sights to bolster their defence
Meanwhile academy star Max Alleyne (right) has been eyed keenly by Borussia Dortmund
Previously at Southampton, Alleyne has been at the club for three years but is yet to play a professional game.
Despite this, he became the sharp prong of Guardiola’s attack on scheduling during the international break in November, when the head coach called out the FA after Alleyne returned from England Under 20s duty with fitness problems.
‘They pushed Max’s limits and he came back injured,’ Guardiola said. ‘They should be more in contact with the doctors of the national teams and the doctors from here.
‘If one player goes to the national team not in a perfect condition and trains with the Under 21s in the morning and in the afternoon with the Under 20s, and then plays two games when not fully fit, it’s normal that he is injured. We are going to lose him for three weeks to one month again.’