Manchester City are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Estudiantes starlet Dario Sarmiento.

The 17-year-old has already turned out 17 times in all competitions for the Primera Division side, banking one assist in the Copa Argentina.

Fabrizio Romano reported last month that City were working on a €19m (£17.1m) deal for Sarmiento, and journalist Tim Vickery has now claimed that a move for the teenager is close to being finalised.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Vickery said: "It's a horrible thing to say about anyone, but there's a mini [Lionel] Messi in him – that's why City have been following him. They can't bring him over until the next transfer window because he doesn't turn 18 until March.

"The club president there is Juan Sebastian Veron and he's saying it's almost a done deal. He's already drooling over the amount of money they can get for him.

"This transfer is one they're buying on promise – he's already got a handful of first-team games to his name."

As well as becoming a regular fixture in the Estudiantes setup, Sarmiento has also registered four goals in six outings for the Argentina Under-16s team.