Vertonghen
Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 6:15 amNOTW
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Heading for the City... Vertonghen
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ROBERTO MANCINI will begin his summer spending this week by confirming the signing of Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen.
The Manchester City boss has pipped Arsene Wenger in the race for the 24-year-old, who had also been tracked by AC Milan.
The Ajax centre-half will cost £8million - confirming City's claims they will not be focusing purely on stellar signings.
Mancini has checked on Vertonghen and is impressed by his versatility because he can also play on the left side of defence.
Arsenal manager Wenger considered pairing him with Belgium team-mate Thomas Vermaelen at the back.
But Mancini has been the more decisive and City hope to announce the deal later this week.
Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak has insisted there will not be any lavish outlay this summer.
Mancini, though, has a list of targets and is likely to try to prise Leighton Baines from Everton.
Baines's team-mate Jack Rodwell is also being monitored, but City will not pay £20m for the relatively unproven England Under-21 midfielder
-----------------
Heading for the City... Vertonghen
.............................................
ROBERTO MANCINI will begin his summer spending this week by confirming the signing of Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen.
The Manchester City boss has pipped Arsene Wenger in the race for the 24-year-old, who had also been tracked by AC Milan.
The Ajax centre-half will cost £8million - confirming City's claims they will not be focusing purely on stellar signings.
Mancini has checked on Vertonghen and is impressed by his versatility because he can also play on the left side of defence.
Arsenal manager Wenger considered pairing him with Belgium team-mate Thomas Vermaelen at the back.
But Mancini has been the more decisive and City hope to announce the deal later this week.
Chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak has insisted there will not be any lavish outlay this summer.
Mancini, though, has a list of targets and is likely to try to prise Leighton Baines from Everton.
Baines's team-mate Jack Rodwell is also being monitored, but City will not pay £20m for the relatively unproven England Under-21 midfielder