Manchester City set to sign Máximo Perrone with player set to join first-team squad NEXT MONTH

Manchester City are on the verge of completing their first signing of the 2022 January transfer window, with the club poised to secure the services of Argentine midfielder Máximo Perrone.

Despite City making it clear that the January window is unlikely to feature any high-profile deals for immediate first-team appearances, work continues in the background in regards to talents that could feature in the longer-term future.

However, there can often be exceptions to that rule, especially when ‘market opportunities’ arise that lead to Etihad officials sanctioning multi-million deals midway through the club’s season.

Last winter, Manchester City secured the signing of River Plate and Argentina forward Julian Alvarez – in a deal that would prove to be hugely successful in the immediate months that followed.

This January, Argentina is back on the club’s radar, as a new report this week reveals that the Premier League champions are closing in on the services of an exciting central midfield talent that is set to join the club next month.

According to the information of transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have a verbal agreement with Vélez Sarsfield, with a deal described as being ‘at the final stages’.

In a deal worth $8M/£6.6M plus taxes, it is specified that the 19 year-old midfielder will not be joining one of Manchester City’s sister clubs within the City Football Group portfolio, and will instead head directly to the Etihad Stadium after the Sudamericano Sub20 in February.

Máximo Perrone currently plays for Vélez Sarsfield in Argentina’s Primera Division, as well as being a part of Argentina’s under-20 team. Across the 33 games that the youngster has featured in so far, he has averaged 3.29 tackles per game.

Perrone has also shown an eye for goal on three occasions, while also providing a further two assists across the past year – an impressive asset for a player often deemed to be a more defensive midfielder.

The pending arrival of the Argentinian midfielder comes at a point where the future of Ilkay Gundogan at the Etihad Stadium remains uncertain, with the Germany international’s contract expiring at the end of the ongoing season.

All of this comes just days after Pep Guardiola explained that the reigning Premier League champions would not looking to be too busy during the January transfer window.