Manchester City is close to completing the signing of Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez before Monday’s transfer deadline. This move aims to bolster Pep Guardiola’s squad as they seek an improvement in their midfield.

Gonzalez has a release clause of approximately $61.5 million in his contract, which City could activate if negotiations with Porto do not yield results. The club may opt to pay slightly more than that amount to negotiate a favorable payment structure instead of a full upfront payment.

After a disappointing 5-1 loss to Arsenal, City recognizes the urgent need to enhance their midfield. Gonzalez, known for his strong presence and ability to contribute with five goals and three assists, is considered a key addition to the team.

Additionally, Porto faces challenges due to a sell-on clause that requires them to give 40% of any transfer fee to Barcelona, complicating matters further as they aim to receive a substantial fee for Gonzalez.

As the January transfer window progresses, City has already made significant additions to Guardiola’s squad with three new players for a total of $150 million. This includes defenders Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Juma Bah, the latter being sent on loan to Lens. Furthermore, forward Omar Marmoush was signed from Eintracht Frankfurt.