Manchester City is understood to be stepping up its bid for Barcelona’s 16-year-old hot prospect midfielder as part of a broader squad overhaul set for the summer.
Despite laying out over £180 million on January signings, Manchester City wants to continue bringing the average age of Pep Guardiola’s squad down, with him being a prime target for the future.
Manchester City is among many top European clubs tracking the Spanish teenager, who has already trained with Barcelona’s first team and been included on the bench for La Liga and Champions League games this season.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the player is Guille Fernandez.
Though yet to feature for the first team, Fernandez is highly rated by boss Hansi Flick and has impressed at youth level, scoring five goals and two assists in 34 appearances for Barcelona’s reserve teams.
His quick progress has also seen him win seven caps for Spain’s Under-19s, indicating he may be able to make the breakthrough at club and international levels.
Though his two-year deal runs only through 2027, Fernandez is said to be willing to move if he is not offered the first-team minutes, which were seemingly guaranteed to him.
Barcelona would, though, demand a buy-back clause or significant sell-on fee if they sanction a sale.
Porto, who have a reputation for nurturing young stars such as Nico González (currently at City), are also keen, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also being linked.
City’s interest aligns with their policy of acquiring young stars, and his technical skill and vision align with Guardiola’s philosophy of midfielders.
Now that the summer window is open, the teenager’s destiny might lie in Barcelona’s willingness to bring him into the first team—or lose him to a rival. If City succeeds, Fernandez would be the latest gem in their rebuilding side.
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