Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 5y

Real Madrid to sign Brahim Diaz from Manchester City within 48 hours - sources

Brahim Diaz is close to completing a move from Manchester City to Real Madrid, with the transfer set go through in the next 48 hours, sources close to the player have confirmed to ESPN FC.

The 19-year-old is expected in the Spanish capital this weekend with the two clubs finalising the details on a move which will see Madrid pay around €15 million for a player who is out of contract at the end of the season.

The deal is part of Madrid president Florentino Perez's stated policy of snapping up the best emerging Spanish talent -- with Brahim joining Marco Asensio, Jesus Vallejo, Dani Ceballos and Alvaro Odriozola in the Blancos squad.

Brahim, who joined City as a 16-year-old from Malaga, has turned down an improved contract offer to stay with the Premier League champions. ESPN FC has been told that he has grown frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities.

He has made just four appearances for City this season -- three in the Carabao Cup and one in the Community Shield -- with manager Pep Guardiola preferring to use more senior options in the Premier League and Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint Germain have also been linked with the Spain under-21 international, but Madrid appear to have won the race for his signature.

Brahim is thought to be encouraged that he will get a chance at the Bernabeu with Madrid's willingness to pay a large fee and offer a six and a half year contract seen as commitment that he will be part of the club's first-team plans.

However, he will have to fight for his place as Madrid coach Santiago Solari has no shortage of options for places in attacking midfield -- with Asensio, Ceballos, Isco, Gareth Bale and Vinicius Junior available.

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