Transfer News: Manchester City wonderkid Brahim Diaz agrees deal to join Real Madrid in the summer

European champions Real Madrid are reportedly poised to sign Manchester City starlet Brahim Diaz on a free transfer at the end of the season.

According to reports in Spain (h/t The Sun), Manchester City’s teenage sensation Brahim Diaz is set to become a Real Madrid player next season, having agreed a deal to join the Spanish capital club in the summer.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is in the final twelve months of his contract with the Premier League champions, but is reluctant to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium, owing to a lack of first-team opportunities coming his way.

And Real Madrid have acted swiftly to swoop in and finalize an agreement with the player to take him to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, on a free transfer.

Diaz started out at the youth academy of Malaga, before moving to England in 2013 to link up with the Manchester City youth setup. Having risen rapidly through the ranks, the teenager made his first-team debut for the Cityzens in September 2016 in an EFL Cup victory over Swansea City at the age of 17 years 1 month and 18 days, under Pep Guardiola.

Since then, the Spaniard has gone on to feature 14 times for the Premier League leaders, only three of which have come in the 2018-19 campaign. Having made a substitute appearance in the FA Community Shield tie against Chelsea, the 19-year-old has started both of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup games and scored twice in the win against Fulham.

Despite impressing at every opportunity that has come his way, Diaz hasn’t made a single appearance in the Premier League and hasn’t made the matchday squad even once either.

This is believed to be the driving force behind the Spaniard’s decision to pursue a move away from the Etihad. To that end, the Spanish U-19 international has already rejected a new contract offer tabled by the Cityzens.

Real Madrid have endured a difficult start to the campaign and after 13 games in the La Liga, they occupy the sixth spot in the table. Given how poorly things have begun this time out, club president Florentino Perez is believed to be keen on revamping the squad over the summer.

One of the players who could be on the chopping blocks ahead of the next season is Spanish playmaker Isco. The 26-year-old has been in and out of the team this term and hasn’t been able to stamp his authority when he has taken the field. And Perez is open to offloading the midfielder and sees Diaz as a direct replacement for the former Malaga man.

The 19-year-old Diaz is widely regarded as one of the finest young talents to have come through the ranks at Manchester City in recent years. And given how he has performed in the limited opportunities that have come his way, Real Madrid will be getting their hands on a future superstar at the end of the season, that too on a free transfer.