Manchester City are keeping track of Racing Club defender Elías Machuca but may have to pay €15m to sign him.
City’s growth over the last decade has seen them focusing heavily on their youth systems, ploughing big money to turn the club’s youth setup into one of the best in the world.
Part of that has seen them develop a scouting network that covers all corners of the globe, with Manchester City picking up young talent from various continents.
Barely a day goes by in which the club are not linked to young rising talent and the latest name to add to the list is Machuca.
Olé in Argentina report that City have been keeping a close eye on the 16-year-old, with scouts having watched the defender this season.
The centre back is ‘one of the greatest’ projects at the club and has been a part of both Argentina’s under 15 and 16 youth sides.
That’s presumably where Manchester City have picked up on him, but Racing were one step ahead of the Premier League side.
Having been alerted to City’s interest, Racing chiefs moved to lock the youngster down to a new deal until 2022 and inserted a €15m release clause in there to ensure they got a decent fee should Manchester City ever come knocking.
At the moment it seems they will instead keep an eye on him, but if they decide to move in future, there’s now a set price they’ll have to match.
