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Manchester City: Transfer News and Rumour Roundup 9

By Stephen Little

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 20: Luis Suarez, Claudio Bravo and Dani Alves of FC Barcelona celebrate with the trophy during the final match between River Plate and FC Barcelona at International Stadium Yokohama on December 20, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 20: Luis Suarez, Claudio Bravo and Dani Alves of FC Barcelona celebrate with the trophy during the final match between River Plate and FC Barcelona at International Stadium Yokohama on December 20, 2015 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images) /
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(Photo credit should read NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images)
(Photo credit should read NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images) /

The Next One Through The Door?

Marlos Moreno, 19, Atletico Nacional, Striker/Winger

Remember we mentioned this one about three updates back? Well back then, even, it was reported that Moreno was Etihad-bound and the same story has played out repeatedly in Colombian media since. Now it seems, the British press have woken up and are catching on, as a deal could well be imminent (transfer speak for, probably this week).

Moreno has been pretty sought-after, it has to be said. United were chasing him heavily and it was rumoured so was Benfica, Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon, probably for good reason too. We mentioned last time that he has been described as “the next Neymar” and for good measure, BBC South American football pundit Tim Vickery compared him to Aguero and Alexis Sanchez too. Not bad company.

The media, including ESPN, Manchester Evening News and the Daily Mail, seem certain that Moreno is going to be Pep Guardiola’s fourth big signing after Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Oleksandr Zinchenko with more yet still to come. It begs the question however, will he be getting any play time for the Blues this incoming season?

Last time out we suggested Moreno would likely be loaned out and that still seems a strong possibility, however, the issue of his visa may not be as problematic as first assumed and that could change the dynamic. Even so, he’s young and plays in a, well, poor league. It’s easy to be dazzled by YouTube videos of Moreno cutting through hapless Colombian defenders like butter, but likely City will want to see the lad up against some serious competition.

Atletico Nacional are on the brink of reaching the final to the Copa Libertadores, so it’s unlikely we will hear news about this until the end of that, but it seems even the Nacional coach himself admits Moreno will be likely heading out to Manchester and is satisfied that the player is waiting until then.

He’s an exciting pickup for City, no doubt. It’s something many fans have wanted to see here, an aggressive policy of picking up young, impressionable and supremely talented youth from South America to bring up through the system, such as saw Barcelona rise to success. Whether Moreno is the next Neymar is yet to be seen, but you know, he might just be.

Next: The Increasingly Expensive

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