Manchester City in talks to sign Argentina U17 midfielder Claudio Echeverri

Manchester City are in talks with River Plate over a potential £15 million deal for highly-rated teenage midfielder Claudio Echeverri.

Two years after swooping on River Plate to land Argentina forward Julian Alvarez, the Premier League, European and newly-crowned world champions are hoping to strike a deal for his compatriot Echeverri.

City signed Alvarez from River Plate for £14 million in January 2022 but immediately loaned the player back to the Argentine club until that summer.

Discussions over Echeverri are continuing and City have yet to reach an agreement for the 17-year-old attacking midfielder but it is expected he would be sent straight out on loan if a deal was struck. That could include a temporary return to River Plate. A fee of around £15-18 million has been mooted.

Echeverri captained Argentina at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia last month and helped his country reach the semi-finals, where they were beaten by the tournament’s eventual winners Germany on penalties following a 3-3 draw.

A fast, skilful dribbler, the teenager scored five goals in total, including a hat-trick in a 3-0 quarter-final win over Brazil in Jakarta that underlined his considerable potential.

City, who face Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, have good relations with River Plate, in no small part thanks to their dealings over Alvarez, who enjoyed an extraordinary debut season in England.

As well as winning the treble of the Premier League title, European Cup and FA Cup, he lifted the World Cup with Argentina in Qatar 12 months ago and last week won the Club World Cup with City to complete an extraordinary year.

Despite the interest in Echeverri, City are not expected to be particularly busy in January, although Kalvin Phillips is likely to leave.

Phillips has made just two Premier League starts for City since signing from Leeds for £45 million 18 months ago and knows he must leave the club permanently or on loan next month to secure regular playing time.

Juventus are hoping to beat Newcastle to Phillips’ signature with those two clubs the frontrunners for the 28-year-old.