Man City have stolen a march on Brighton & Hove Albion, as they have moved into pole position to sign Valentin Barco.

The Seagulls were edging near to completing a move for the 19-year-old over the summer, but they were unable to reach an agreement with Boca Juniors.

Man City close to Valentin Barco deal

However, Brighton’s loss could be Man City’s gain, as Pep Guardiola’s side have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals, according to Football Insider.

The latest reports have claimed that the Premier League champions could land the 19-year-old, as a $20 million deal is close to being agreed.

City could complete the signing as soon as the January transfer window opens, and they could opt to send the full-back on loan to his current club.

The left-back has played just 21 professional games for Boca Juniors, but he has scored twice in 18 appearances across all competitions this term.