Manchester City set to win transfer battle for in-demand La Liga centre-back | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City are now expected to win the race for one of European football’s most highly-rated central defenders, currently operating in La Liga.

The arrival of yet another centre-back into Manchester City’s plans for the immediate term and future could make it three new central defensive recruits in a single month following recently concluded deals elsewhere.

Lens and Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov is expected to finalise a switch to Pep Guardiola’s side in the coming days, while there is a widespread belief that an agreement has also been reached with Palmeiras for Vitor Reis.

The latter, despite a clear intent from the Brazilian club to retain his services until after the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, is expected to join Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad immediately at the age of just 19.

And the recruitment drive for the best young talents in the game continues, with Manchester City officials turning towards the Spanish game for a prospect that has attracted interest throughout Europe in the last few weeks.

According to the information of journalist Alan Nixon, Manchester City are set to win the transfer battle for highly-rated Sierra Leone centre-back, Juma Bah despite significant competition from across Europe for the teenager.

It is reported that the Premier League champions are now hoping that their sales pitch of signing the 18-year-old from AIK Freetong and then loaning him back out to his current temporary club Real Valladolid for the next 18 months will still appeal to the player.

It is explained that Bah had recently stalled on a move to the Etihad Stadium when all of Inter Milan, Lens and Fenerbahce made contact, but Manchester City have been the most serious in the hunt for the player for the longest time of all linked.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, the report points out that both Everton and Crystal Palace are still waiting for encouragement, but Manchester City’s presence for the player could end the battle for his signature very soon.

At present, there is no indication as to what Manchester City may do with Juma Bah in terms of loan destinations beyond this season, should they manage to agree a deal with both AIK Freetong and Real Valladolid.

There remains a strong possibility that City could position the player within their City Football Group portfolio of clubs, or hand him the opportunity to impress in the Premier League via a loan move to one of their direct rivals.

The influx of new centre-back talents will also raise doubts over the futures of existing central defenders in Pep Guardiola’s squad, with uncertainty facing John Stones in particular as a result of his reoccurring injury frustrations.