Manchester City beat Arsenal in race to sign centre-back in January with Hugo Viana ‘heavily involved’ in deal | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City secured victory over Arsenal in the transfer market last month, it has been revealed.

Information concerning a win in the window comes just days after Mikel Arteta’s side handed the Etihad Stadium club a heavy defeat in Premier League action as they stormed ahead in the race for a top-four position with a 5-1 win at the Emirates.

It was yet another clear indication to Manchester City and club officials that a rebuild of the current playing squad is imperative in order to maintain their position as one of the world’s leading football teams.

And that is a feeling that is shared within the club itself as they sanctioned a total spend on four signings over the course of the January market exceeding €200 million, bringing in two new defenders, a central midfielder, and an attacking star.

But as part of that recruitment drive, it has now emerged that Hugo Viana, Txiki Begiristain and Manchester City had managed to secure a victory over Arsenal in the process, denying the Gunners a signing from Brazil.

According to a new report from The Athletic’s Sam Lee, those who have held discussions with City during the past few weeks have revealed that Hugo Viana was ‘heavily involved’ in the club’s business, and specifically with the signing of Vitor Reis from Palmeiras.

It is revealed that the Brazilian centre-back was ‘well-known to top European clubs’, while Viana was among those who had tracked his progress for his Director of Football role at Sporting with Arsenal ‘in the driving seat’ towards the end of 2024.

Ultimately however, it was Manchester City who won the race for the 19-year-old, and the club are said to be ‘firmly of the belief’ they have secured two top talents for the future with Abdukodir Khusanov arriving from RC Lens, too.

With the Uzbekistan international, there is said to be an expectation that he can contribute to some extent this season, alleviating strain on the club’s overworked central defenders and provide cover for the departed former club captain, Kyle Walker.

Vitor Reis is yet to make his debut for Manchester City having joined the club in mid-January, but an opportunity for that moment could come this weekend when the Premier League champions travel to Brisbane Road for the FA Cup fourth round.

After dismantling League Two side Salford City in round three at the Etihad Stadium last month, Manchester City will now jump up a division to take on League One high-flyers Leyton Orient for a place in round five.