Manchester City are reportedly in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund today in view to signing their 6 ft 4 Serbian centre-half Neven Subotic before the transfer window closes. In fact, delegations from Eastlands are attempting to bring in a number of new recruits with Middlesbrough’s Adam Johnson and Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago all targeted.
Subotic signed a new long-term contract with Borussia Dortmund earlier this season but City are refusing to take no for an answer as Roberto Mancini looks to stamp his own mark on his team. The young defender has been dubbed the ‘New Nemanja Vidic’ and has grown in stature and reputation in the Bundesliga after a number of excellent consistent displays. An injury to Vincent Company has left City struggling for fit centre-halves but unlike the current crop, Subotic is extremely dominant aerially.
Borussia have moved swiftly to quash the reports of a move to Eastlands and the player’s agent Steve Kelly is doubtful of a move but with City poised to bid big, a move may be more realistic than many would expect.Kelly told skysports.com, “I would be really surprised if Neven was to leave Dortmund in January.
“It would take something special for Dortmund to sell him as he is on a long-term contract there.”
The 21-year-old enjoyed a fantastic debut season in 2008/09 with Borussia after moving from Mainz. His form resulted in the offer of a new improved contract which he signed which would see him remain at the club until 2014. He has played in all 20 league games this season starting and finishing each match. Dortmund are enjoying a good season which has seen them rise to 4th in the Bundesliga, 8 points behind leaders Bayer Levekusen. A 4-1 weekend defeat at Stuttgart ended Borussia’s 9-match unbeaten league run and left them off the pace for the title refueling speculation that the club may now sell to Manchester City.
Subotic was born in Banja Luka in the former Yugoslavia but moved to Germany with his family in 1994 when he was 5-years old. However, in 1999 his family moved to the USA after their residence authorization expired. There the Serbian international played soccer for Sparta Gold and Impact Black youth clubs in Salt Lake City before moving to Florida where Subotic’s sister pursued a tennis career at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. The big defender began to play for the University of South Florida’s team and was later spotted by agent Steve Kelly while representing an U17 team in the Netherlands. Kelly offered the player a trial with Mainz who eventually signed him.
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