Manchester City scouted Palmeiras midfielder Patrick de Paula in their win over Santos in the Copa Libertadores final at the weekend, as reported by UOL.
And it’s not only Man City fans who’ll be watching potential developments closely.
With a much-publicised buy-back clause in his Aston Villa contract, speculation linking Douglas Luiz with a return to the Etihad has grown from a crackling ember to a full-blown forest fire.
35-year-old Fernandinho isn’t getting any younger and, with City in the market for a long-term replacement, Dean Smith could soon receive the phone call he’s been dreading.
But Luiz isn’t the only tenacious, tough-tackling, technically gifted number six on Man City’s radar.
According to reports in Brazil, scouts working on behalf of the Premier League leaders were present in a 5,000-strong Maracana crowd as Palmeiras beat Santos in a dramatic Copa Libertadores final.
Rio-born De Paula, 21, has played his way on to City’s radar after a fabulous breakthrough season, one in which he was named Campeonato Paulista young player of the year.
Like Aston Villa’s number six, De Paula is more than a ball-winning, bone-chewing bulldog. With five goals in 37 games, the all-action scrapper is more than handy in the attacking third too.
He fits City’s style like a tailored Armani blazer – skipping through tackles, breaking the press with piercing passes and driving forward with pace and purpose.
UOL adds De Paula has an £88 million release clause in a contract that expires in 2024.
You’d imagine Palmeiras would be willing to sell for a much lower fee than that, however.
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