Manchester City is reportedly set to secure a third central defender this month at a significantly reduced cost, thanks to the structure of a contractual agreement.

The club’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, alongside his transfer team at the Etihad Stadium, including new addition Hugo Viana, has been actively working on deals to shape the next generation of the squad.

Following years of exceptional success—highlighted by four consecutive Premier League titles and their first UEFA Champions League victory—Manchester City appears to be refreshing Pep Guardiola’s squad as he enters the final two years of his contract.

The revamp has begun with defensive reinforcements, as the club recently signed central defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis from RC Lens and Palmeiras, respectively.

However, reports suggest another central defender could join soon, with plans for a unique developmental approach for the young talent upon arrival.

Journalist Alan Nixon reports that Manchester City is close to finalizing a deal for highly-rated center-back Juma Bah from La Liga side Real Valladolid.

The fee for the Sierra Leonean defender is expected to be just £5 million—a significant reduction from his previous valuation of £12 million. The lower cost is attributed to Bah’s current status on a “youth player contract” at Valladolid.

The player’s representatives argue that this status allows for a low-cost transfer, with Manchester City paying a modest initial amount followed by compensation, totaling approximately £5 million.

Since these reports surfaced, a source close to Global Soccer Management, Bah’s representative agency, has provided insights into the ongoing negotiations, offering a clearer perspective on the current situation.

Speaking to Africa Foot, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, the source explained on the situation, “Manchester City’s interest in Bah is not new, as I already mentioned to you a few weeks ago.

“Inter Milan and Barcelona were also interested, but Barcelona’s offer was never formal. So, we had to think about what would be best for Bah.”

The source continued by issuing a significant update, “Yes, there is now an agreement with Manchester City, with a six-year contract and an amount of around €13 million which will be paid to Real Valladolid and his training club AIK Freetong.”

In a strongly-worded statement released on their official website on Wednesday, Real Valladolid revealed that Juma Bah and his agent had informed the club of their decision to unilaterally terminate his contract.

Manchester City, in response, formally requested that Valladolid enter negotiations for a permanent transfer. Meanwhile, the player has chosen not to attend training sessions.

The statement also noted that the Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed Bah has made the payment required to terminate his contract unilaterally. Real Valladolid, however, asserted their intent to “pursue appropriate legal and sporting actions to protect their rights and interests.”

The situation remains uncertain, with further developments expected in the coming days.

West Ham United may have the opportunity to sign a highly talented attacker during the January transfer window.

Graham Potter, now at the helm following his replacement of Julen Lopetegui, must prioritize strengthening the team’s attacking options before the window closes.

This month has already seen significant changes at the London Stadium, with recruitment guru Kyle Macaulay set to join from Chelsea, replacing Tim Steidten.

While much of the transfer speculation has centered around West Ham’s pursuit of Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, the club seems to be exploring a wide range of potential targets.

One key point is clear: failing to bolster the forward line before the window shuts is not an option. Continuing into the second half of the season with the current squad could make the road ahead far more challenging.

Among the potential targets, Baris Alper Yilmaz has emerged as a standout candidate. West Ham reportedly submitted a £25 million bid for the Galatasaray star just days ago.

Yilmaz, an exceptional 24-year-old winger, would bring significant quality to the team, and his age suggests he has plenty of room to develop over the next few years.

However, according to Haber Sarikirmizi, West Ham would need to raise their offer to £34 million to secure Yilmaz’s signature.

While this seems a reasonable price for such a talented forward, the club’s top priorities should still include signing a proven center-forward, a powerful box-to-box midfielder, and a reliable center-back during this transfer window.

Big problem with West Ham signing Yilmaz for £34 million

Yilmaz has been on West Ham’s radar for a while, with reports suggesting the club held talks with his agent over the summer regarding a potential move.

The Turkish international is undeniably a special talent. Praised as “incredible” by beIN SPORTS, the Galatasaray forward appears to have all the attributes needed to thrive in the Premier League with the Hammers.

This season, Yilmaz has netted 10 goals in 19 Super Lig appearances and is versatile enough to play on either wing or as a central striker. He boasts exceptional pace, remarkable technical skill, and a clinical finishing ability.

Securing Baris Alper Yilmaz for £34 million during the January transfer window would be an excellent deal for any club that lands him. However, I believe West Ham have more urgent priorities this winter than signing another winger.

Graham Potter’s focus should be directed elsewhere to address the team’s more critical needs.

Reports from Argentina suggest that Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho prefers a move to Chelsea over Napoli.

Napoli had an initial bid for the 20-year-old rejected, with United initially demanding a £70 million transfer fee.

Chelsea is also considering signing Garnacho before the January transfer window closes. On Monday night, the winger’s two agents were spotted at Stamford Bridge during Chelsea’s 3-1 victory against Wolves.

United’s management continued negotiations with Napoli on Tuesday, with reports from Italy indicating that United has lowered their asking price to €65m (£54.8m).

According to TyC Sports, Garnacho prefers to stay in the Premier League, but Chelsea has yet to make a formal offer.

The winger has not finalized his decision, and his transfer depends on Chelsea’s next move.

Chelsea is also monitoring Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, although Bayern is unwilling to sell the 19-year-old, who has only played 332 minutes across all competitions this season.

Another player on Chelsea’s shortlist is Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. However, Chelsea faces competition from Bayern Munich, and Dortmund holds a strong negotiating position since Gittens is under contract until 2028.

Meanwhile, United held discussions with Lecce on Tuesday regarding a potential deal for 20-year-old left-back Patrick Dorgu.

Lecce rejected United’s opening offer of €30m (£25.3m) plus €5m (£4.2m) in bonuses, as they aim to keep Dorgu until the end of the season.

Napoli has also shown interest in Dorgu and may allow the Danish international to stay at Lecce on loan for the remainder of the campaign.