Manchester City expect Allan Elias to arrive in England on Wednesday or Thursday as the final details of his move from Palmeiras fall into place.
The agreement itself was widely reported on Monday. Tuesday has now brought considerably more detail from Brazil about exactly what City are paying and the contract waiting for the 22-year-old.
ESPN Brazil says Allan should arrive on Wednesday, August 26, or Thursday, August 27 at the latest. He will then sign a five-year Manchester City contract running until June 2031.
There’s also an option for another season, potentially keeping him at the Etihad until June 2032.
How Manchester City get to €40m
The financial structure is particularly interesting after the negotiations of the past few days.
Manchester City will pay Palmeiras €37.5m (£32.4m) as a fixed fee. Another €2.5m (£2.2m) is attached to what ESPN describe as “easy” objectives.
Those bonuses are split into two packages connected to Allan Elias being included in the squad for 20 matches. ESPN therefore believe there should be no major obstacle to the transfer reaching €40m (£34.6m).
That structure explains how City and Palmeiras eventually found common ground. Palmeiras had been pushing for €40m (£34.6m) guaranteed. City had previously indicated €35m (£30.3m) fixed and the Brazilian club wouldn’t accept that.
The eventual solution gives Palmeiras €37.5m (£32.4m) guaranteed, with another €2.5m (£2.2m) attached to targets considered straightforward.
Fee can go beyond €40m
That isn’t necessarily the final cost for Manchester City either. ESPN reports there is another pre-agreed amount attached to additional objectives. Those targets are considered more difficult to achieve than the first set.
The Brazilian report doesn’t disclose the value of those further bonuses in Tuesday’s report, so the maximum package remains unclear for now.
What is clear is that €40m (£34.6m) should effectively be considered the initial value of the operation, rather than its absolute ceiling.
That figure is also worth remembering after manager Abel Ferreira’s comments we covered yesterday. Discussing the prospect of losing Allan, the Palmeiras manager said: “But €40m for one player… congratulations to the coaching staff, our president, the academy and the player.”
Manchester City have now essentially got there, even if the clubs needed a little creativity with the structure.
Allan’s move should now progress quickly. Palmeiras and City have their financial agreement, his long-term contract is prepared, and the Brazilian is expected in England within the next couple of days.
