Manchester City are reportedly on the brink of completing a deal for Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez after striking an agreement on a fee with their Portuguese counterparts.
Earlier in the January transfer window, it was reported that the Premier League champions were running the rule over the 23-year-old, but they had not firmed up their interest until now.
The Citizens have now made a concerted effort to bring Gonzalez to the Etihad Stadium before the 11pm deadline, although Porto were insisting that his €60m (£49.8m) was to be paid to sanction a deal.
According to Fabrizio Romano, though, Man City and Porto have now come to an accord, and the Premier League champions will fork out the full £49.8m for the lynchpin.
However, rather than paying the full fee upfront, Man City have apparently negotiated a different payment structure with Porto, who have given Gonzalez the green light to undergo his medical.
Gonzalez 'to undergo medical' ahead of Man City switch
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The Spain Under-21 international is now reportedly set to fly to England to complete his necessary examinations, and there is confidence that he will be a Man City player by the time the market closes.
Gonzalez will represent another midfield option in the absence of Ballon d'Or Rodri, who may or may not return from his devastating ACL injury before the end of the current season.
The 23-year-old came through the youth ranks at Pep Guardiola's former club Barcelona before joining Porto in a £7m deal in 2023, having spent the previous campaign on loan at Valencia.
Gonzalez represented the Blaugrana on 37 occasions before joining Porto, whom he boasts nine goals and nine assists for from 68 appearances across all competitions, winning one Portuguese Cup and one Portuguese Super Cup.
A highly productive 2024-25 season has seen Gonzalez score seven goals and set up six more in 29 appearances in all tournaments, but the Spain Under-21 international has also established a reputation for indiscipline.
The former Barca man has already been booked 11 times in the current season, as well as being sent off against Gil Vicente on January 19, his most recent Primeira Liga appearance.
Gonzalez will follow Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov to the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window, and City's winter business is expected to be completed with the signing of the Spaniard.
When could Gonzalez make his Man City debut?
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Man City continue their FA Cup journey away to Leyton Orient in the fourth round on Saturday, and Gonzalez should be in line to make his debut for the Citizens against Richie Wellens's side.
The 23-year-old could then make his European bow for Man City against none other than Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on February 11, four days before a potential Premier League baptism against Newcastle United.
Ben Knapton
