Man City to draft Claudio Echeverri into senior squad in January after rejecting River Plate's request to extend loan agreement for the 'next Lionel Messi'

City signed the 18-year-old playmaker from River Plate in January and allowed the Buenos Aires-based outfit to keep him on loan until the end of the year. With his pre-agreed loan spell ending this December, the Premier League giants are now all set to register him with their first-team squad in January, according to Manchester Evening News.

Echeverri has been in red-hot form this season and has performed consistently in the Argentine top-flight. As a result, River Plate approached City to extend his loan agreement until next summer. However, ESPN Argentina (via AS) reports that the Cityzens have rejected the request as they want to bring the teenager, who has been dubbed 'the next Lionel Messi', to England as early as possible.

With Echeverri's future now decided, City will focus on finding a quality defensive midfield option in January, as they are still in search of a replacement for Rodri, who is out for the season due to an ACL injury.

Pep Guardiola's side will be back in action after the international break this Sunday as they take on Wolves in a Premier League away fixture. Echeverri, meanwhile, could start for River Plate again when they face Velez Sarsfield on October 18.