Manchester City are set to land ex-Barcelona starlet Ian Carlo Poveda.

The 16-year-old, who is now at Brentford after La Masia academy’s legal problems in signing youngsters, has become an internet sensation over the past season.

A diminutive attacking midfielder, Poveda is an England Under-16 international and also eligible to play for Colombia.

Manchester City are set to land England Under 16 international and ex-Barcelona wonderkid Ian Carlo Poveda

The 16-year-old is currently at Brentford and has become an internet sensation over the past season

He is expected to continue his development at Pep Guardiola’s new side City, who are due to take over his contract and offer a scholarship in the coming weeks.

Poveda went to Barca at the age of 12 after training with Arsenal for weeks, with the two clubs locked in a bitter battle for his services.

The Catalans prevailed but then confusion reigned as to whether he was loaned to the west London club or left permanently.

It is the Championship club who will receive the fee for Poveda when they thrash out a deal with City, who continue to make academy strides.

City are reshaping their academy ahead of the summer arrival of Pep Guardiola from Bayern Munich

Manuel Pellegrini said recently that he hoped ‘four or five’ of the players coming through would have an eventual impact on Guardiola’s starting XI.

Meanwhile, it is thought a handful of City youngsters will be loaned out to Dutch club NAC Breda next season - including defender Tosin Adarabioyo and winger Bersant Celina, both of whom played in the FA Cup defeat at Chelsea earlier this season.