Manchester City have held further talks with Palmeiras over a £25million deal for 18-year-old Vitor Reis, after Mail Sport reported that the English champions were looking to secure the Brazilian teenage star's signature.
The centre-back is also wanted by Brighton, but Palmeiras want £35m, while the south coast club previously made a bid of just £23m.
The 18-year-old is regarded as one of the best defensive players in South America and is attracting interest from a host of clubs from across Europe and the Premier League.
Brighton has had a strong first half of the season under new manager Fabian Hurzeler. The club is currently tenth in the Premier League and has ambitions to move up the rankings.
They are now targeting a move for Reis, who impressed after breaking into the Palmeiras first team, with the Brazilian youngster making 18 appearances in Serie A this season.
Incumbent City sporting director Txiki Begiristain met with his successor Hugo Viana on Wednesday as Man City look to add two or three signings to their squad this window to revive Pep Guardiola's set-up and boost the competition to increase after a difficult first half. the season.
The Premier League champions have had a tough time due to Rodri's absence due to injury. They embarked on a disastrous run of one win in thirteen games, before recording 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, with the Egypt international keen to move on to the Premier League champions.
Frankfurt are a reluctant seller, especially in the winter window, and had hoped to keep the 25-year-old, who has scored 18 goals in 24 games this season.
Liverpool and Arsenal are also tracking Marmoush but have not followed through on their interest and City are willing to pay around £50 million for a player who can play on the front line or behind the striker.
But in addition to the influx, Man City are also preparing for the exit, and defender Max Alleyne has become a target for Borussia Dortmund.
Alleyne previously worked for Southampton and has been with the club for three years, but is yet to play a professional game.
Despite this, he became the focal point of Guardiola's attack on the schedule during the international break in November, when the head coach called out the FA after Alleyne returned from England under-20s with fitness problems.
“They pushed Max's limits and he came back injured,” Guardiola said. 'They should have more contact with the doctors of the national teams and the doctors from here.
'If a player does not go to the national team in perfect condition and trains with the Under 21s in the morning and with the Under 20s in the afternoon, and then plays two matches while not being fully fit, it is normal for him to get injured. We'll lose him again for three weeks to a month.'
Comments