Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Nacional defender Renzo Orihuela, according to a report by El Observador (via Sport Witness).
They report that negotiations for the player are well underway and that City have offered to buy 80% of the 18-year-old’s registration for a fee of $1.5m (£1.15m).
Should Man City be looking closer to home in search of future stars?
Yes
No
The Cityzen’s are said to have been watching the young defender for over a year now but if a deal is struck, the player will be allowed to remain with Nacional for six months before he departs for England.
City’s scouting network is among the best in world football currently and the significant investment in identifying talented players from all around the globe means they’re often at the front of the queue when these types of players emerge (The Athletic).
TIF Tactics – Should City be looking closer to home?
The defence has proven to be City’s Achilles heel this season and so it’s no wonder they are searching the planet for promising young defensive talent. However, if Pep Guardiola looks closer to home, he will realise the likes of Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who he has recently praised, have every chance of coming good – saving the club a great deal of money in the transfer market.
Garcia has made five appearances in the Premier League so far this season and is certainly further down the progression line than Taylor Harwood-Bellis. However, the latter has appeared in the EFL and FA Cup matches recently and also appears to be highly-rated amongst the coaching staff.