City, Barca in fight for Brazilian starIt appears battle lines have been drawn for a player considered by some in Brazil to have the potential to be the new Neymar.
In one corner, Barcelona. In the other, former Barca boss Pep Guardiola and Manchester City. The player? Gabriel Jesus.
Let's start with City: The Sun reports that Guardiola has offered £16.7 million for the Palmeiras forward.
It adds that the 19-year-old has two release clauses in his contract, with one allowing City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid to sign him for that amount.
The other, applicable to any other club caring to bid, is for £27.8m.
With Gabriel Jesus having attracted the attention of "a host of European giants," City "have made the first real move," the Sun says.
But hang on -- Barcelona have also made an offer and have started talks with Palmeiras, Spanish outlet Sport says.
Negotiations, according to its report, "could progress over the coming days," with Barcelona scouts believing a move for the teenager would be "a safe bet."
Palmeiras are reportedly resigned to the fact that they will lose Jesus this summer -- and it appears only to be a question of to which club.
http://www.espnfc.us/blog/transfer-talk ... ester-city