Manchester City reportedly plot raid for £42 million Spain international

Manchester City are reportedly monitoring the situation of Barcelona starlet Gavi.

According to a fresh update from El Nacional, as cited by the Daily Mail, the Premier League champions have been alerted to the fact that the midfielder has a surprisingly low release clause of just £42 million written into his contract in Catalonia, and could look to exploit that valuation in the future.

Liverpool are also said to be keeping tabs on the 17-year-old, as per the same outlet.

Gavi still has 18 months left to run on his contract at Camp Nou, but is likely to remain a magnet for widespread speculation until Barca are able to tie him down to a new deal with a more exorbitant clause attached to it.

Who is Gavi?

Despite still only being 17, Gavi has already made his mark on the first team picture at Barcelona.

The teenager started his youth career with Real Betis, but has been on the books at Camp Nou since 2015, and has made 23 first team appearances this term after forcing his way into Xavi Hernandez’s plans in Catalonia.

Over the course of those outings he has picked up three assists and a goal, and his performances at club level have already earned him four senior caps for Spain.

How likely are City to seal the deal?

Compared to other promising members of Barcelona’s squad, Gavi’s release clause of just £42 million could prove to be something of a bargain.

This latest report suggests that Pep Guardiola is an admirer of the youngster, and if his valuation can be met then there’s no reason to believe that City couldn’t enter into negotiations for his signature.

There are a couple of caveats, however.

For one thing, with 18 months left on his current contract, Barca still have plenty of time to negotiate a new deal with a higher release clause, and given his rapid ascent to the first team, you would imagine that any future valuation would be closer to the £842 million deterrents written into recent agreements with Pedri and Ansu Fati.

The other stumbling block is that Gavi is said to be “hesitant” about making any big moves so early in his career.

If that is the case then City could struggle to complete a deal in which both the player and his club are reluctant to see it happen.