Manchester City’s rich pool of talented youngsters has become a shopping platform for clubs in this country and abroad, and West Ham United are the latest club looking to take advantage.
The Guardian claims that the Hammers are close to completing a deal to sign Man City academy star Carlos Borges in a deal worth around £14 million.
West Ham are reportedly on the cusp of warding off interest from other European clubs, including Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund, who have also been monitoring the youngster.
Some people may suggest West Ham are parting ways with a huge sum for the youngster, considering he has no top-flight experience.
However, Borges’ profile and performances for Man City’s youth side mean he could prove a shrewd acquisition for David Moyes’ side.
The prolific, nimble-footed Portuguese winger was a menace in the youth division, firing Man City’s under-21s to the Premier League 2 title last season with 21 goals in 24 league appearances.
His overall numbers are even more mind-boggling, considering he finished the campaign with 29 goals and 18 assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.
The 19-year-old is a perfect blend of pace, power and trickery with a keen eye for goal and creative prowess that could come in handy for a West Ham side that struggled to find the back of the net consistently last term.
West Ham are looking to use some of the money from Declan Rice’s sale to Arsenal to bolster their squad following a disappointing domestic campaign last season.
Borges is set to be West Ham’s first signing of the Premier League transfer window.
He could get his first taste of top-flight football when the Hammers travel to Bournemouth for their curtain raiser on August 12.
Man City will include a buyback clause, but moving to West Ham could give Borges a better chance of playing regularly in the Premier League.
West Ham switched their attention to Borges after missing out on Leicester City forward Harvey Barnes, who is poised to join Newcastle United this summer.
