Manchester City are reportedly closing in on the signing of teenage starlet Juma Bah, who currently plies his trade at La Liga side Real Valladolid.
The Citizens have already announced the arrival of two young central defenders this month in the form of 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov and 19-year-old Vitor Reis.
While Khusanov joined City from Lens for a reported €40m (£33.5m) on Monday, it was confirmed less than 24 hours later that the Premier League champions have signed Reis from Palmeiras for around €35m (£29.6m).
Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his defensive options due to the club's persistent injury issues in that department, while Man City have also been seeking to address the age profile of the club's first-team squad, which has become the fourth oldest in the Premier League.
The Citizens are showing no signs of slowing down in the transfer market and are now in the driving seat to secure the services of highly-rated young defender Bah.
© Imago
Man City agree deal to sign Juma Bah?
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Man City now have a verbal agreement to sign Bah, who is currently on loan at Real Valladolid from Sierra Leone-based club AIK Freetong.
However, Romano adds that the Citizens are discussing whether to loan the centre-back to Ligue 1 side Lens, whom they now have an 'excellent relationship' with after signing Khusanov.
Bah stands at a whopping 6ft 5in at the age of just 18 and has seamlessly adapting to life in La Liga with Real Valladolid this season, making 12 Spanish top-flight appearances.
The towering defender, who has previously been linked with Newcastle United, Everton and Crystal Palace, has started 10 of those La Liga outings and has impressed, even though Real Valladolid sit bottom of the table.
© Imago
Who else could Man City sign in the winter window?
Guardiola's side are also in the market for attacking reinforcements and are on the verge of finalising a deal to recruit Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The 25-year-old is currently in Manchester undergoing a medical ahead of completing his transfer to the Etihad Stadium, worth a reported €75m (£63.4m).
Man City have also been tipped to strengthen in midfield due to the long-term absence of injured star Rodri and they are believed to be weighing up a move for Juventus' Douglas Luiz, who was once on the books at the Etihad between 2017 and 2019, but he never made a single senior appearance.
The Citizens are said to only want to sign Luiz on loan until the end of the season, with no option or obligation to buy, but Juventus would rather sell the ex-Aston Villa star outright this month or insist that an obligation to buy next summer is included in any deal.
Oliver Thomas
