Manchester City are reportedly set to trigger the release clause of 19-year-old Velez Sarsfield wonderkid Maximo Perrone, who is also a target for Newcastle United.
Newcastle have been heavily linked with highly-coveted Velez Sarsfield midfielder Maximo Perrone recently but could be about to miss out on the 19-year-old’s talent with Manchester City now on the cusp of signing the Argentine maestro. That’s according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who claims that City are ready to meet Perrone’s roughly £5 million release clause.
Despite his tender years, Perrone has already clocked 33 appearances for his club across all competitions after breaking into Sarsfield’s first-team picture only this season, instantly establishing himself as a regular starter.
The young central midfielder has found the back of the net three times and provided two assists overall, but the left-footed playmaker’s true strengths lie in his ability to break up plays, distribute with high efficiency, and move the ball from defence to attack. A tough tackling, technically gifted midfielder, his style of play has been likened to that of compatriot and World Cup champion Enzo Fernandez.
Indeed, he is seen as a huge talent given he has produced stellar midfield displays and has shown maturity beyond his years ever since bursting onto the scene with Velez. The 19-year-old has been targeted by several big European clubs after shining in the Argentinian top flight.
Newcastle have been considered as a long-standing admirer of his talent. Wolves also held an interest in the youngster, while Benfica are now looking at him as a potential replacement for Enzo Fernandez.
However, Manchester City appears to have stolen a march in the race for his signature, and a deal may even be wrapped up in early January as they have ramped up their interest in Perrone.
As a holding midfielder, Perrone is unlikely to become a regular starter for Man City right off the bat. They already have the likes of Rodri and Kalvin Phillips in his position.
However, in recent years, City have been working with an eye to the future, a policy that has led them to strive to recruit several talented prospects at a young age and develop them according to the needs of the first-team.
The Sky Blues have been particularly active in the Argentinian market after deals for Nahuel Bustos and Dario Sarmiento, while Perrone’s compatriot and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez is a perfect success story of this strategy.
When City signed Alvarez last January, they sent him straight back on loan to his former club, River Plate, so he could continue playing regular first-team football. It remains to be seen what City’s approach will be with Perrone should the deal be completed as expected.
His current contract with Velez Sarsfield expires at the end of December 2023, and City could obtain him for as little as £5 million, which would feel like a steal if he eventually ends up being the long-term replacement for midfielders like Ilkay Gundogan or Rodri down the line.
