According to the latest reports, Manchester City have edged in front of Juventus in the race to sign Argentina's latest teenage sensation Pablo Piatti.
Juventus have long been regarded as the frontrunners for the Estudiantes star, who also counts Real Madrid, Espanyol, Fiorentina, Porto, Werder Bremen and Paris St. Germain on his growing list of admirers.
The Argentine sports papers are now reporting, however, that City boss Sven Goran Eriksson -backed by Thaksin Shinawatra's millions- is making a power-play for the player who is being billed as the new Messi.
Indeed, the diminutive and skilful 19-year-old support striker is regarded as one of the most promising young players in Argentinean football, and he was a member of the victorious FIFA U-20 World Cup squad last summer.