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Manchester City are expected to finalise the signing of midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate when the Argentinian transfer window opens on January 25 for £12m plus add-ons.
Echeverri, 18, will also return to River Plate on loan.
City, who travel to Abu Dhabi on Thursday for warm weather training, are exploring the market for another winger with Wolves‘ Pedro Neto among those on their radar.
Savio, who is performing well on loan at Girona, also well liked.
Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been watched for the past year but his levels have dropped slightly in recent months.
Agents clamour for Manchester United starlet
A number of agents have been making their pitch to Manchester United prospect Dan Gore with the promise of finding him a club on loan.
The 19-year-old has made a first-team breakthrough this season figuring from the bench against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa after impressing coaching staff. However, there’s an acceptance he needs regular competitive games to kick on to the next stage and United will consider loan proposals.
The midfielder, who is among a clutch of players due to attend warm weather training in Dubai this week, is represented by his family but big agencies have been circling looking to sign him on with the promise of finding him a new platform from which to build.
Championship sides have been touted but it’s understood most genuine interest has come from League One clubs with high-flying Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, Shrewsbury Town and Fleetwood among those keen to take him. Bolton proved ideal for Liverpool prospect Conor Bradley last season.
United will confirm the departures of Alvaro Fernandez to Benfica and Hannibal Mejbri to Sevilla later on Monday. Both are leaving on loan with options to buy and an option to buy-back. PSV Eindhoven remain in the hunt for Facundo Pellistri while Dutch side NEC Nijmegen have also enquired.
Striker Anthony Martial looks increasingly likely to see out his contract as he is not convinced by options available to him this window.
United sources have also dismissed suggestions of a possible loan move for Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad amid reports he is unsettled in Saudi Arabia. Chelsea have the likes of Benzema and Al Ahli’s Roberto Firmino on their list of possible short term solutions for their attack but talks have yet to advance and will not be straightforward.
United want a top striker and maintain interest in Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise ahead of the summer when his buyout clause may come into play. They also had scouts at Everton against Aston Villa on Sunday to check on Jarrad Branthwaite’s continued progress.
Aston Villa eye Serbian starlet
Aston Villa are in talks to sign right back Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade.
The 18-year-old is a Serbia U19 international and will cost around £8million with a 15 percent sell-on clause being negotiated.
Nedeljkovic only made his first team breakthrough last summer and is expected to stay with Red Star until the end of the season and is viewed as one for the future.
Unai Emery confirmed last week that Calum Chambers is free to leave the club, while Villa have Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa as options to play at right-back. They also recalled 21-year-old Kaine Kesler-Hayden from his loan at Plymouth this weekend.
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