Israeli teenager Gai Assulin looks set to join Man City on a four-year deal.

Assulin, a former Barcelona midfielder, underwent surgery on an injured knee last month. He visited Eastlands last week for a medical and was sent to a rehabilitation clinic to hasten his recovery.

Assuming there are no hitches, Assulin, 19, will join City and be loaned out for the remainder of the 2010/11 season.

Assulin was released by Barcelona in July and is available on a free transfer. The Israeli who joined the La Liga champions when he was 12 has Spanish citizenship and will qualify for a UK work permit.

Assulin, often dubbed the “new Lionel Messi,” became the youngest ever player to represent Israel in February 2008 when he was just 16.

But injury over the past year meant he was only used in Kings Cup and Catalan Cup matches by Barcelona, and in the summer Pep Guardiola decided he did not have a future at Camp Nou.