Manchester City are reportedly well-placed to sign Divin Mubama as Pep Guardiola set sights on the free agent, weeks after he left West Ham.
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Mubama in high demandLeft West Ham after running down his dealCity set to beat Lyon & Famalicao to his signatureWHAT HAPPENED?
According to the 19-year-old forward, who recently left the Hammers upon the expiry of his contract, has caught the eye of City scouts, who are eager to bring him to the Etihad Stadium as a free agent. The England U20 international was released after the club failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension. Mubama's departure marked the end of a long-standing relationship with the London club, where he had been honing his skills since joining their youth ranks.
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Romano reported that the Citizens have hijacked negotiations that Mubama was having with Lyon and Famalicao, and are now on the verge of securing his signature. There are indications that the teenager could be loaned out either in January or next summer to gain further experience and develop his skills in a competitive environment. City view Mubama as a significant homegrown talent who, with the right guidance and opportunities, could become a key player for the club in the future.
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite making 18 senior appearances for the Hammers, in which he scored one goal and provided one assist, Mubama was unable to secure a future at the club. However, his performances at the youth level were far more impressive as he notched up 40 goals in 57 appearances for West Ham's U18 side and further demonstrated his potential with 18 goals in 34 games for the U21 team.
ImagoWHAT NEXT?
With the departure of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, following his frustrations of playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland, there is a vacancy in the squad that Mubama could potentially fill. His prolific goal-scoring record at the youth level suggests that he has the talent and potential to succeed at the highest level. However, he must adapt to the demands of playing at a top-tier club like City and if he can seize the opportunities presented to him, Mubama could well become one of the standout players of his generation.