West Ham United are reportedly closing in on the signing of Manchester City youngster Carlos Borges.
The 19-year-old has developed into one of the Citizens' brightest prospects since joining the club's youth system from Sporting Lisbon in 2015, scoring 55 goals and providing 42 assists in 79 appearances from Under-19 to Under-21 level.
Borges was named 2022-23 Premier League 2 Player of the Season after helping Man City Under-21s win their third successive title, scoring a league-high 21 goals in 24 games.
The attacker, who primarily operates on the left wing, has also represented Portugal Under-19s on 16 occasions, and played five times as the Selecao went on to lose the European Under-19 Championship final to Italy earlier this summer.
Borges, who is yet to make a senior appearance for Pep Guardiola's side, has entered the final year of his contract at Man City and has been linked with a proposed loan or permanent exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
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The likes of Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Celtic have all been credited with an interest in Borges, but it now looks like West Ham are set to win the race for his signature.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Borges is closing in on a permanent transfer to the Europa Conference League winners as a verbal agreement is in place to sign the teenager for around £14m.
Romano adds that the details of the proposed transfer are being finalised and Man City intend to include a buy-back clause in the deal.
The Citizens have build a reputation for making significant profits from the sale of a number of their academy players in recent years, including Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu and Sam Edozie who all joined Southampton last summer.
Last season's Under-21s captain Shea Charles is the latest City youngster to make to move to St Mary's, joining the Championship club for around £15m earlier this month, while England Under-21 goalkeeper James Trafford is allegedly close to completing a £19m transfer to Burnley.
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West Ham have stepped up their pursuit of Borges after losing out to Newcastle United in the race to sign Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes, who is closing in on a £38m move to St James' Park.
Borges could also be viewed as a possible replacement for Michail Antonio who has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia to link up Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq.
David Moyes is yet to make any signings so far this summer, but the Scotsman has plenty of money in the bank to spend on new recruits following the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
West Ham are believed to be prioritising the addition of at least one new midfielder this summer, with a host of names including Joao Palhinha, Edson Alvarez, Leon Goretzka, Conor Gallagher, Denis Zakaria and James Ward-Prowse having all been linked with a switch to the London Stadium.
Oliver Thomas
