Manchester City in advanced talks to sign Zack Steffen in deal worth up to £7.8m - report

Manchester City are in advanced talks to sign USA international goalkeeper Zack Steffen from Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew, The Athletic reports.

It was reported by The Sun at the weekend that City were lining up a move for the 23-year-old, and citing sources, American website The Athletic says a deal is close.

According to ‘multiple sources with knowledge of the deal’, talks are at an advanced stage and should they conclude successfully, Steffen will join Manchester City on January 1st.

The transfer fee will be among the biggest in MLS history and is expected to be between $7 million (£5.5 million) and $10 million (£7.8 million). That would put it up there with Alphonso Davies’ move to Bayern Munich, which could eventually reach $19 million, and Jozy Altidore’s $10 million transfer to Villarreal in 2008.

A work permit may prove difficult to acquire right away for City, so there is a good chance that Steffen would be loaned abroad until he gets more USA caps.

In the long-term, the highly-rated American would become the back-up goalkeeper to Ederson, replacing Claudio Bravo and playing in cup games.