Manchester City are eyeing a move for Atletico Mineiro’s midfield prospect Yan Philipe, who has a €56 million release clause.
According to Torcedores, Manchester City have set their sights on another South American talent – this time in the form of Yan Philipe. The youngster is a midfield prospect who plies his trade for Atletico Mineiro’s youth squad. He has a contract with the Brazilian outfit until 2023 and his release clause stands at a whopping €56 million.
Man City are currently doing business with Atletico Mineiro over the services of Savio. The youngster is expected to join the Etihad camp next season after the two parties reached an agreement worth around €6.5 million. They are now locked in negotiations over a potential deal for Philipe.
The report states that Manchester City have been monitoring the progress of the 17-year-old for quite some time now. They had initially made the first move back in December 2021, but it was quickly knocked back by Atletico Mineiro. The youngster was courted by a number of other clubs as well, including Club Brugge, Estoril Praia and reigning French champions LOSC Lille.
A central midfielder by trade, Philipe has made quite an impression with his dynamic style of play. He is an aggressive operator who loves to make driving runs into the opposition area, resembling the style of someone like Jude Bellingham.
His unique skills in midfield haven’t gone unnoticed, with Manchester City among the clubs tracking his progress at Atletico Mineiro. Unlike Savio, the youngster is yet to make an impression at the professional level. However, he does have enormous potential and could soon become an asset in the middle of the park.
Manchester City’s pursuit of Philipe suggests the Cityzens are prepared to bag his services, but offer him the opportunity to gain vital experience elsewhere. Much like Savio, the 17-year-old is likely to be loaned out to another European or even South American club, helping him quickly get used to the rigours of professional football.
Philipe, though, certainly isn’t the only South American talent Manchester City are keeping a close eye on. While his Atletico Mineiro teammate Savio is close to signing for the Cityzens, the reigning English champions are also reportedly tracking Boca Juniors duo Exequiel Zeballos and Valentin Barco.
It will be interesting to see which ones make it to the Etihad next summer and start the next chapter of their respective careers.
