Dario Sarmiento has been linked with a move to Manchester City (Getty Images)
According to El Dia (h/t ESPN), Manchester City are very close to signing Dario Sarmiento from Estudiantes. It is being said that the winger will remain at Estudiantes until 2021 and then link up with Manchester City. Sarmiento is said to be valued at around £18million and talks to sign him have intensified in recent weeks.
Born in Argentina, Sarmiento flourished through the ranks of Estudiantes’ youth system and broke into the senior set-up last season. He made his debut in October 2019 against Huracan.
So far, he has made 12 appearances for the club and has one assist to his name. Sarmiento has appeared 6 times for the Argentina U-16s, scoring 4 times.
It would seem Sarmiento is not a necessity at Manchester City right now given the resources they have. Ferran Torres was the newest addition to a contingent that already had Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez. Yes, they are established wingers and Torres is a youngster with lots of potential.
However, City do need to keep an eye on the future. With the renewal of Pep Guardiola, City have started to plan for their future. They obviously need to recruit young players who can eventually take up the places of the existing superstars.
That way, Dario Sarmiento looks like a good signing, keeping in mind his potential and development over the last season or two. City have previously frisked through the South American market to sign the likes of Gabriel Jesus, who has become one of the best emerging young players in the club.
They have also given chances to youngsters such as Phil Foden and Eric Garcia and they have become a part of the first team now. Yes, Sarmiento is too young and inexperienced to be judged but City have more often than not got it right in the transfer market.
Sarmiento is one for the future and he will surely need time to make his mark at the club. But City must take a chance on him and make an investment.