Manchester City will begin their summer spending with a £25million offer for Athletic Bilbao defender Javier Martinez.
After missing out on Chelsea-bound £32m Belgian winger Eden Hazard, the Premier League champions are resolved not to lose the race for Martinez.
The 23-year-old excelled as Athletic reached the Europa League Final last season and will be part of the Spain squad defending their European crown.
Manchester United and Barcelona have also been tracking Martinez, but Roberto Mancini wants a top-class defensive recruit after being priced out of a move for AC Milan’s Thiago Silva.
Mancini was told it would cost City £25m plus Pablo Zabaleta to prise the Brazilian away from the Italians when he visited the Milan training ground last week.
That was too expensive even for City, who have now set their sights on Martinez. City’s hopes of completing the deal before Euro 2012 kicks off on Friday is optimistic, although they did sign David Silva two years ago during Spain’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
The Blues will also have to be patient in their bid to land Robin van Persie as the Arsenal ace will not decide about his future until after the Euros.
After missing out on Chelsea-bound £32m Belgian winger Eden Hazard, the Premier League champions are resolved not to lose the race for Martinez.
The 23-year-old excelled as Athletic reached the Europa League Final last season and will be part of the Spain squad defending their European crown.
Manchester United and Barcelona have also been tracking Martinez, but Roberto Mancini wants a top-class defensive recruit after being priced out of a move for AC Milan’s Thiago Silva.
Mancini was told it would cost City £25m plus Pablo Zabaleta to prise the Brazilian away from the Italians when he visited the Milan training ground last week.
That was too expensive even for City, who have now set their sights on Martinez. City’s hopes of completing the deal before Euro 2012 kicks off on Friday is optimistic, although they did sign David Silva two years ago during Spain’s triumphant World Cup campaign.
The Blues will also have to be patient in their bid to land Robin van Persie as the Arsenal ace will not decide about his future until after the Euros.
Source : Mirror.co.uk
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