Manchester City inform Palmeiras of intended bid valuation for Vitor Reis as negotiations intensify | OneFootball

Palmeiras have now been made aware of the intended bid valuation to be submitted by Manchester City for 18-year-old centre-back Vitor Reis, according to new reports.

The Premier League champions are intensifying their pursuit of one of Brazil’s highest-rated young talents, with the intention being to bring the player directly into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad at the Etihad Stadium.

Reis is one of four potential new signings arriving at Manchester City this month, and one of two central defenders that are being actively targeted by the club at present in a total spend across the month expected to exceed £100 million.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush, Lens’ Abdukodir Khusanov, and a new central midfielder make up the rest of Manchester City’s transfer plans as club bosses look to get their squad rebuild underway at the earliest opportunity in the new calendar year.

But the potential new arrivals are not taking place without firm negotiations over price tags as City still look to get the best deals possible, with details surrounding their conversations with Palmeiras over Vitor Reis surfacing this week.

According to the information of The Times’ Paul Hirst and Constantin Eckner, City have opened talks with Palmeiras over the signing of Reis, telling the Brazilian club that they are willing to bid about £25 million while the Brazilian side want closer to £33 million.

With City wanting to sign Reis during this month’s transfer window, it is explained that Etihad Stadium bosses are convinced the 18-year-old is ready for first-team football straight away. However, as reported elsewhere, Palmeiras want the teenager to play in the Club World Cup.

Reis only signed his latest contract with Palmeiras five months ago, with a €100 million release clause inserted into the agreement. The player has already reportedly agreed personal terms with Manchester City, and has previously been linked to Brighton and Real Madrid.

Additional reporting from Sky’s Florian Plettenberg has also claimed that City are currently not willing to pay the €40 million being demanded by Palmeiras for Reis, who is waiting for an agreement between the two clubs over his transfer.

However, it is stressed that negotiations remain ongoing between all parties at the two teams, and a deal is not off for the centre-back.

Manchester City would have no intention of allowing Vitor Reis to leave the club on a loan for the remainder of the campaign, should they manage to secure an agreement for the player, believing that he is ready to contribute to Pep Guardiola’s plans.

Reis’ ability to operate in a number of positions will also be a tempting proposition to the Premier League champions and Guardiola in particular, with right-back a suitable role for the player and the Catalan coach certainly open to being more flexible with him through coaching.

It remains to be seen whose position within the first-team squad could take a hit as a result of defensive signings coming into the club, with significant doubts already standing over the futures of Kyle Walker and John Stones in particular.