According to The Telegraph Manchester City have beaten Tottenham Hotspur to the signature of one of English football’s brightest young talents, the 16-year-old Ipswich Town attacker Ben Knight – despite a late intervention from Mauricio Pochettino.
Pep Guardiola’s side will pay £700,000 for Knight, the nephew of former England cricketer Nick, with further add-ons depending on how far the teenager progresses at the club with the deal expected to be finalised next week.
Knight is relatively small for his age, however he rated technically as exceptional, a creative forward who fits the criteria for City’s ambitious academy.
Mauricio Pochettino is understood to have been part of the delegation at Spurs trying to persuade Knight and his family to choose North London over Manchester for his scholarship and first professional contract but to no avail.
The youngster will sign a scholarship deal initially, which will convert into a professional deal on his 17th birthday.
Knight has been training under the watchful of former England international Kieron Dyer, who also began his career at the club and now works at the academy with Dyer once comparing Knight to Lionel Messi in terms of ability and stature.
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