Manchester City are set to sign Ante Palaversa for a fee of £7 million.
The player’s club Hadjuk Split have confirmed they are talking with the Premier League champions (Goal).
Apparently City have watched holding midfielder Palaversa a number of times, with Pep Guardiola excited about his potential.
Scouting reports have apparently led the Spaniard to believe he would be a shrewd investment for the future, especially with Fernandinho nearing the end of his career at 33.
Assuming City get the deal over the line for the talented 18-year-old, then it might make for good news for West Ham.
City signing Palaversa could potentially mean they would no longer have any interest in signing Declan Rice.
Rice has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with the Manchester Evening News reporting last week that the Citizens had been tracking the 20-year-old’s development.
Rice, who recently penned a new long-term contract at the London Stadium, has been touted as a possible replacement for Fernandinho, after impressing massively at holding midfield this season.
After breaking into the first-team as a central defender, it nows looks as though Rice’s natural position has changed.
He is without doubt one of the Premier League’s best young talents, and news of City’s pursuit of Palaversa will surely provide a huge boost regarding their precocious asset.