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Manchester City have continued their rebuild by signing the defender Vitor Reis from Palmeiras for £29.6m. The 19-year-old is the second centre-half bought by the club in two days, after Abdukodir Khusanov, and takes their spending to £63.4m, with about another £50m poised to be spent on the forward Omar Marmoush.
The deal for Reis, who has played for Brazil’s under-16s and under-17s and can also operate as a full-back, does not include add-ons. He has come through the academy at Palmeiras and made 22 first-team appearances.
Reis has signed a four-and-a-half-year-contract and was described by City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, as “one of the most promising young defenders in the world”. Begiristain said: “He is excellent on the ball and outstanding in the air – he has all the attributes needed to be one of the best.”
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While are bringing in young defenders – Khusanov will be 21 next month – the 34-year-old Kyle Walker is expected to leave, with Milan interested in the England international.
Reis said: “Working with Pep Guardiola is something every young player wants to do, and I know he can help me to develop into the best player I can be. City also have a lot of experience of working with Brazilian footballers and joining the likes of Ederson and Savinho in the squad will be a big help to me.”
Marmoush, who will be 26 next month, has 15 Bundesliga goals for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, one behind the division’s top scorer, Harry Kane.
