Manchester City and Velez Sarsfield are still haggling over a fee for Thiago Almada.

Tied to Velez until 2020, Almada's contract carries a €16m buyout clause.

The midfielder, 18, is being lined up by City to be signed and loaned out to Sporting CP for next season.

O Jogo says City are reluctant to pay Almada's buyout clause and are pushing Velez to negotiate a lower price.

Almada is rated the best young talent in his homeland and his explosive and clever skills have marked him out as the latest to be compared to Barcelona great Lionel Messi.