Manchester City are now close to completing the signing of Genk midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Man City targeting youngsters

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has previously claimed that he is 'pleased' with the first-team squad he has, so the club will not look at strengthening the squad in the January transfer window.

However, the Sky Blues still appear to be in the running to sign some young players, with Maximo Perrone set to join the club in a £6.5m deal, and now El Khannouss could also be on his way to the Etihad Stadium soon.

The Latest: El Khannouss deal close

According to reports from Belgium (via TEAMtalk), City are now closing in on the signing of the 18-year-old, with Napoli the only other frontrunner named in the race for his signature.

The youngster will not come cheap though,  as it is claimed that Genk are holding out for £28.3m, due to the fact that he has only recently signed a contract extension to extend his deal until 2026.

The Verdict: Get it done

There are plenty of indications that the Moroccan could be a mainstay in the Man City midfield for years to come, being lauded by football scout Jacek Kulig as 'the next superstar' of the Atlas Lions, while also being said to have a 'huge future' ahead of him.

The starlet is already flourishing in the Genk first team, making a total of 20 appearances for the Belgian club, and he has really started to find his stride in recent weeks, bagging an assist in the 3-1 win against Club Brugge last time out.

Guardiola already has plenty of central midfielders to choose from at this moment in time, so it would perhaps be best if El Khannouss was sent out on loan to continue his development, but there is every sign that he could be a future Premier League star.