Manchester City transfer bosses travel out to Europe to finalise big-money agreement urgently

Officials in recruitment at the Etihad Stadium have headed out into Europe in an attempt to finalise an agreement to strengthen Manchester City’s attacking options.

The Premier League champions are closing in on two new arrivals this week alone, with the defensive positions in Pep Guardiola’s squad having come under intense attention during the opening two weeks of the January transfer market.

The first player through the door to bolster the rearguard is likely to be Palmeiras’ 19-year-old versatile defender, Vitor Reis after a £29.5 million agreement was struck between the two clubs to bring the teenager to Manchester immediately.

A €40 million package has also been agreed with Lens for Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov, following a stellar rise for the 20-year-old since joining French football only one year ago.

But perhaps the most ambitious pursuit has centred around Eintracht Frankfurt’s star forward Omar Marmoush, who has been the focal point of German football so far this campaign with an incredible record in the goal contributions department.

With little progress heading towards an agreement over a transfer fee, according to the information of the Daily Star’s Jeremy Cross, Manchester City officials have now travelled out to Germany.

The aim of Manchester City chiefs is to conclude a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt for Omar Marmoush before the end of this week, in a development that would likely make the 25-year-old their third arrival of the winter market.

It is further pointed out that City boss Pep Guardiola is keen to sign a new player who can take the ‘growing burden off’ mainstay striker Erling Haaland when it comes to his Premier League champions scoring goals.

It is widely believed that Manchester City and Omar Marmoush have already reached a full verbal agreement on personal terms, and the player wants a move to Premier League football immediately as opposed to waiting until the summer.

Marmoush’s Frankfurt teammates are also believed to know about the Egypt international’s intention to join Manchester City at some stage this month, while his club are bracing themselves for an exit and are sourcing possible replacements.

It remains to be seen whether the arrivals of Khusanov, Reis, and Marmoush will be followed by any further additions into the City squad, although there is a common belief that the club may still need to bring in a defensive midfielder either this month or in the summer.