Man City closing in on first signing of January transfer window

Manchester City are reportedly closing in on securing a transfer deal for Velez Sarsfield midfielder Maximo Perrone according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Premier League champions have been in talks with CA Velez Sarsfield over a deal for Perrone since December without a move being finalised, but it appears they’ve made some progress and could confirm the transfer this week.

According to Fabrizio Romano, City are expected to complete the deal in the coming days, making the 20-year-old their first signing of the January transfer window.

Romano had this to say on a recent Twitter post: “Manchester City will complete Maximo Perrone deal in the next days — as all parties are working to get documents sealed. It’s almost done, as already called in December.

“Understand Pep Guardiola spoke to Argentina U20 coach Mascherano about Perrone and his potential.”

With Romano revealing that Guardiola had got in touch with Javier Mascherano about the youngster’s potential, this suggests that the Argentinian could well be in and around the senior squad once he makes his way to the Manchester club.

Whether Perrone will stay in the first-team or be loaned out is up in the air and may depend on how he performs when Pep Guardiola gets a good look at him.

Despite his tender years, he has been a mainstay in the first team this season and has shown signs of functioning as a tempo-setter and classy playmaker at the heart of the midfield engine room.

Having made 33 appearances for Sarsfield, Perrone has scored three goals and delivered two assists in the process.

In addition to scoring two goals in his 15 league appearances last season, the midfielder managed to show how useful he can be with and without the ball.

For example, with 10 shots at goal, Perrone ended the campaign with the joint-third highest rate of goals per shot (0.2) at the club as well as having the fourth-highest number of interceptions (21).