Manchester City are edging ahead of Barcelona in the battle for two Sporting CP youngsters.

Sport says Barça's representatives realised as much when they recently turned up at Sporting to watch two players.

The Catalan club subsequently spoke with the players' people, but found out that Manchester City had already been in touch and had the rights of both players.

It's not the only move Barça have made in Portugal, either, given there are various players at Benfica who have been followed and are being followed with interest by the Blaugrana.

For now, the two players in question have not been publicly identified.