NEWCASTLE could face a transfer blow as Manchester City have opened talks with Argentine wonderkid Maximo Perrone, according to reports.
The 19-year-old plays for top-flight team Velez Sarsfield in his hometown of Buenos Aires.
The midfielder has attracted interest from the likes of Wolves, Benfica and the Magpies.
But according to the Daily Mail, City have started negotiations over a £6.5million transfer.
And should he complete an Etihad switch, Perrone would follow in the footsteps of compatriot Julian Alvarez by moving directly from Argentina to the Premier League champions.
Perrone only made his senior debut in March but made 33 appearances in the 2022 season across all competitions, grabbing three goals.
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His contract at his boyhood club expires at the end of 2023 – with European sides keen to swoop to secure the budget deal.
Perrone is expected to stay with his current side until the end of the Under-20 South American Championship which runs from January 19 to February 12.
Manager Javier Mascherano looks set to include the Velez Sarsfield youngster in his squad despite just one U20 cap to his name.
However, Perrone did make seven appearances for the U16s in 2019.
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Should he feature at the tournament in Colombia, the star is unlikely to want to secure a transfer to Europe in the January transfer window.
That means a deal may well be agreed but he may not link up with his new team-mates until pre-season in the summer, similar to the Alvarez deal this year.
City confirmed the £17m transfer from River Plate in January but loaned the striker back to the Argentine side for the first half of 2022.
The Etihad giants are also desperate to add Jude Bellingham to the squad next year while Rafael Leao is also a priority target.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
