Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Argentine defender Valentin Barco and are confident of landing him.
A report from Football Insider claims that Premier League champions Manchester City are now optimistic of securing an agreement to sign Boca Juniors defender Valentin Barco in 2024.
The 19-year-old has been outstanding for Boca Juniors, and his performances have caught the attention of the Premier League club. He is highly rated in South America and has a big future ahead of him. Manchester City are hoping to secure his services soon after reportedly agreeing personal terms, and he could prove to be a solid long-term investment.
Clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion and Juventus have looked at the talented young defender as well, but a transfer has not materialised yet. The 19-year-old left-back could be a useful acquisition for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Manchester City have one specialist left-back at their disposal right now in Sergio Gomez. But the Spaniard does not feature regularly in Pep Guardiola’s side. So, the Argentine defender will fancy his chances of breaking into Guardiola’s first-team plans soon.
The report claims that Manchester City are expected to make their move for the defender in January, and they are confident of winning the race for his signature. Barco has a contract with Boca Juniors until December 2024, and he will be able to move on as a free agent in the near future. It makes sense for the South American outfit to sell him for a reasonable price in January.
But recent reports have claimed that the Argentine wonderkid will soon sign a new deal with Boca Juniors. Manchester City certainly have the financial resources to convince them with a lucrative offer and it remains to be seen how the situation develops.
The Premier League champions have been using Josko Gvardiol as their left-back since the start of the season. The Croatian international joined the club in the summer, and he is more suited to the role of a central defender.
Someone like Barco can sort out the left-back position for the foreseeable future if he manages to hit the ground running. Joining a club like Manchester City can be hard to turn down for most players, and the 19-year-old might be tempted if there is a concrete proposal on the table. Working with a manager like Guardiola could help him fulfil his tremendous potential as well.
