Manchester City are making rapid progress with their pursuit of Palmeiras centre-back Vitor Reis, with personal terms reportedly being agreed with the Brazilian teenager. Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov also remains in their January tRANSFER window wish list.
City's stranglehold on the Premier League came to an abrupt end as autumn turned into winter, losing six league games between early November and Christmas alone. That is more defeats in a seven-week run than in any of the last three full Premier League seasons.
Across the squad, age is starting to take its toll, with nine players aged 30 or over and another three already 29. Rodri will be part of that older group until he also returns from injury.
Numerous reports, including from BBC Sporthave named Reis and Khusanov as January targets. Both are quarterbacks and both are at the start of their respective football journeys.
UOL were the first to share that an agreement has been reached with Reis and his agent, with a proposed contract considered “ready”. Negotiations with Palmeiras are ongoing to close a €40m (£33.5m) deal, with the hope that it could be completed before rival bidders get involved.
Reis will turn 19 at the end of this month and is another off the Palmeiras production line that has also recently produced Chelsea-bound Endrick and Estevao Willian. town previously did business with the Brazilian club to sign teenager Gabriel Jesus in January 2017.
At 20, Khusanov is a bit older. He has settled in France since 2023, joining RC Lens from Belarusian side Energetik-BGU. The Uzbekistan international, who would become the first from the Central Asian country to play in the Premier League, is also valued at €40m. Athletics City State are working to beat the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur to his signature.
The city also remains linked with £50m Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush AND Bayern Munich maestro Jamal Musialawho has entered the final 18 months of his contract.
This winter will be the last that long-term director of football Txiki Begiristain oversees before he steps down and hands over the reins. Hugo Viana's default replacement.