Journalist reveals Man City plan to sign highly-rated 18y/o Brazilian midfielder and more transfer rumours

Manchester City will reportedly move to sign Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca in 2023.

The English giants have been quite active in South America in recent years with City signing the likes of Yangel Herrera, Kayky and Dario Sarmiento to their youth ranks, with Franca seemingly the Manchester giants next big project from Brazil.

According to journalist Julio Miguel Neto (h/t Sport Witness), City have their sights set on Matheus Franca from Flamengo but may have to pay €35m (£30.4m) to procure his signature. 

Neto says an offer could be lodged next year, but no official approach has been made on their end. If signed, the plan would be to loan him out to a City Football Group side.

The journalist wrote: “For Manchester City, he is a player that pleases. They should do as they do with many jewels, they sign and loan to teams from the franchise, like Girona or other teams. They give minutes, experience, and then returns to Manchester City itself or to another major European football team making the sale.”

Franca, who has five years remaining on his deal at the Maracanã, has been a regular at club level in the last few months, featuring in their last 12 Serie A outings, but he’s only started four of the games.

The Brazilian 18-year-old wonderkid has made 24 appearances in all competitions for Flamengo, scoring six goals.

Elsewhere, Manchester City are reportedly in talks to sign Chelsea youngster Jude Soonsup-Bell, according to reliable Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella.

Chelsea signed Jude Soonsup-Bell from Swindon Youth in 2015, and he has turned into one of the most highly rated players in their academy ever since. With 28 goals and 7 assists in 77 games, the player is proving his worth in the academy.

Jude Soonsup-Bell is one of the most highly rated youngsters in the Chelsea academy, and is admired internally at Chelsea. Soonsup-Bell is tipped to push into the first-team, but Manchester City have other ideas.

Manchester City are also reportedly planning to make offers of €120m (£105m) for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao in January.

The 23-year-old has elevated his game to new heights with the Rossoneri over the last 18 months, and he is set to become one of the most sought-after forwards in Europe when the transfer window re-opens.

It’s been claimed that Milan will consider cashing in on the forward if a ‘super offer’ is received, as they do not want to lose another valuable star on a free transfer.