Manchester City are interested in Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis as they start to plan for the future of their defence.
The Premier League champions hope to bring the 18-year-old to the Etihad Stadium while Palmeiras want €40m for the prospect.
City want Reis to add to their first team immediately and have no plans to send the teenager out on loan if they sign him this month.
City are also keen to sign another young centre-back, the 20-year-old Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens.
Their squad only contains two defenders they have bought in the last four years, in Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji, and manager Pep Guardiola has had a host of centre-back injuries this season.
Right-back Kyle Walker turns 35 in May while central defender John Stones is 30, with both Akanji and Nathan Ake having their 30th birthdays later this year and City have started to turn their attention towards the next generation of defenders.
Reis, a Brazil Under-17 international, broke into the Palmeiras team last season. Like City, the Brazilian club will play in the Club World Cup this summer.
In what could be a busy January for them, City also want Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush.
