Manchester City have joined neighbours United in the race to sign Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Mateo Kovacic.

The 17-year-old, dubbed the 'Croatian Lionel Messi', impressed for Dinamo despite their poor Champions League campaign and has become viewed as one of the most talented attacking midfielders in Europe.

City chiefs held a meeting with Kovacic's representatives on Tuesday in an attempt to smooth over a deal, but they face serious competition from a number of European clubs.

The rising star broke into the Dinamo first team in 2010 and has already played twice for the Croatian Under-21s.