Manchester City is on the verge of signing 17-year-old Claudio Echeverri from River Plate for a reported fee of £21.7 million. The talented attacking midfielder, nicknamed 'Little Devil,' has also attracted interest from Barcelona. However, City's strong relationship with the Argentine club, having previously signed Julian Alvarez, has given them the upper hand in negotiations. City is open to loaning Echeverri back to River Plate for another year before he officially moves to England, following a similar path taken by Alvarez.

Exciting Young Talent

Echeverri has been on City's radar for some time, but talks have intensified since his standout performances for Argentina at the under-17 World Cup. The confirmation of the transfer is expected to come when the January transfer window opens on Monday. Previously, Chelsea had been linked with a move for Echeverri, but it seems that City is now his likely destination.

Promising Performances

The 17-year-old midfielder has impressed both at club and international level. He has captained Argentina's under-17 squad and scored 13 goals in 23 appearances for his country, including five goals in their run to the U17 World Cup semi-finals. Echeverri has also made six first-team appearances for River Plate, who recently secured their 38th league title.

Following in the Footsteps

Echeverri will be hoping to replicate the success of his compatriot Julian Alvarez, who joined City after winning the World Cup and went on to win the treble in his debut season. Alvarez has made 75 appearances for City, contributing 27 goals and 14 assists.

Overall, City's pursuit of Echeverri demonstrates their commitment to nurturing young talent and securing their future success. Fans may have to wait a little longer to see the 'Little Devil' in action, but the anticipation is building for his arrival at the Etihad Stadium.