Manchester City Transfer News: Latest on Gabriel Jesus, Fresh Yaya Toure Rumours

Manchester City-bound Gabriel Jesus has revealed he spurned more lucrative offers from around Europe in order to seal his January move to the Etihad Stadium. Elsewhere, Santos are in the hunt for Yaya Toure, according to the club's manager.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were just some of the clubs linked with Gabriel this past summer, and he told FourFourTwo it was the "whole City project" that convinced him to join:

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There was [a lot of interest in my signature], but I don't want to name any club. The decision to join City was taken by me, with my family and my agent – and it wasn't the best financial offer. We considered many things, but I really appreciate the whole City project and I'm so happy with the decision. City are a huge club in a country that loves football and has one of the best leagues.

I can't deny that working with [Pep] Guardiola helped with my decision. He's an excellent manager – one of the best in the world – and I can't describe how proud I am when he says good things about me. I'm proud that he likes my way of playing, but that's not enough for me. I need to show that he was right about me.

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City will begin to benefit from the talents of their new arrival next month after he concluded the 2016 campaign at Palmeiras, scoring 12 goals in 27 appearances and helping the club clinch the Brazilian Serie A crown.

Those exploits, as well as the fine progress made with Brazil's national team, were enough to net Gabriel the biggest individual accolade his country has to offer in football, per the official Champions League Twitter account:

Gabriel acknowledges the role manager Pep Guardiola's arrival at the City helm played in his decision, while it's highly unlikely the reported £27 million signing will be working for a pittance when he does move to Manchester.

However, one has to consider luring the most coveted transfer targets will have been one of City's major motivations in appointing Guardiola, meaning his position in charge is already taking effect. 

Jaime Melo is the man responsible for taking Gabriel to Palmeiras, and he told Brazilian outlet UOL (h/t Lucas Sposito of Sport Witness) of his former charge's potential, as well as the first time he saw him play at former club Anhanguera:

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In four minutes, he made two runs through, scored two in the top corner, I saw he was different. I stood up, went to the car, took Palmeiras' form, in the next day I brought it back signed by his mum, Mrs. Vera, and I took it to Jair Jussio [youth team director].

[...]

 He didn't even take part in a test, Jair put him in a friendly against São Caetano, he scored four goals. So it started, U15, U17, top scorer, now you see how he is. With three months at Palmeiras, Candinho [assistant manager] said, 'this boy is a national team player', and he was only between 15 and 16 years old.”

I'd like to watch his debut at Manchester City, I'm preparing myself psychologically and financially. In Guardiola's hands, Gabriel will get to Neymar's, Messi's level. But I'm not saying it will be in his first year, no.

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It's exciting for City fans in particular to know the incoming attacker might have rejected such grand powers as Real and Barca in favour of an Etihad switch, considering the scope both those outfits have to augment his powers.

And City have pulled off a major coup by landing the prolific 19-year-old, too, as illustrated by beIN Sports, which recently previewed Gabriel's impending move to the Premier League:

Elsewhere, Santos coach Dorival Junior has outlined Manchester City midfielder Toure as one of numerous veterans the club are targeting in a bid to add some world-class pedigree to their ranks.

In a recent interview with Brazilian daily Lance! (h/t FourFourTwo), Dorival disclosed the names of several experienced players his outfit are considering:

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I work in reality, but I have to try and build the best team possible. I think of it as a marketing move, which can gain new members or a partner interested in the image of the player. This is the healthy side of football, wanting more and more. Then comes the board looking for a new name, a man who is down and wants to turn his career around.

Ribery is one of these, who could be a name, and at Manchester City there is Yaya Toure. Totti is another that if he came would attract everyone's attention. We are discussing some names. Sometimes the player himself is looking for a new place and is disposed to a new financial situation.

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Toure, 33, has already encountered some criticism in recent seasons for showing a lack of effort at times, and it's up for discussion as to how Santos would plan on squeezing the most out of the ageing Ivorian in Brazil.

That said, Santos appear to be aiming high in their efforts to bring some prestige to the club, and with Toure's City contract expiring next summer, they might just have a chance at landing his signature.