Premier League hegemon and recent treble winners Manchester City have set their sights on another Croatian talent this summer after the club has reportedly jumped to the head of the queue for U17 international winger Leon Lalić.
The 17-year-old recently featured at the U17 Euros, starting all three matches in Hungary for Mladi Vatreni, including completing 70 minutes against England before Croatia crashed out of the group stage.
Per football insider Fabrizio Romano, City is now thought to be the preferred destination for Lalić despite considerable interest from a host of clubs across the continent, with a decision ready to be made in the immediate future.
Many top clubs want Croatian talented 2006 midfielder Leon Lalić from RB Salzburg. ⭐️🇭🇷
🔵 EXCL: told Manchester City via City Group are now the favourite option on player side. Decision imminent. pic.twitter.com/0EhIe1RsIC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2023
This comes in the wake of the Premier League holders bringing in senior compatriots Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol from Chelsea and RB Leipzig this summer for a combined £101m, while the club also completed a £51m move for Belgian international starlet Jérémy Doku from Stade Rennais yesterday to replace the departed Riyad Mahrez.
Lalić, who has yet to feature for the senior RBS side, is currently in one of the best development houses on the continent given the club’s track record surrounding youth, but a chance to move to City, and hopefully be put on the same track as the likes of Phil Foden, Rico Lewis, and Cole Palmer, would signal a massive opportunity.
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