Mehdi Benatia tops Man City's wish list and £12m Roma defender could be first of many
City on the look out for new centre back with Benatia and Eliaquim Mangala being considered
Manchester City are considering Mehdi Benatia at Roma as their next centre-back purchase.
The Morocco star is widely regarded as the best central defender in Italy and has been watched closely by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years.
Roma paid £12m to Udinese for him only last summer and he has continued to show why he is so well thought of with solid defensive displays and an attacking threat at set-pieces.
City have been holding talks with Porto over Eliaquim Mangala who is generally regarded to be over-priced while there is a similar situation with Aymeric Laporte at Athletic Bilbao who Barcelona have also enquired about.
French-born Benatia is a proven quality player who would form a formidable partnership with Vincent Kompany while allowing the likes of Matija Nastasic to develop.
Benatia had a trial at Chelsea during Jose Mourinho's first spell at the club and stayed in a house with Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele. However, despite being offered a deal, he wasn't keen on such a big move at that stage of his career and stayed with Marseille
Hart, Demichelis and Garcia happy to be comeback kids
The trio faced a barrage of criticism over the course of the season but each bounced back to play a vital role in City's double success.
City's comeback kids have lifted the lid on how they proved their critics wrong.
Joe Hart, Martin Demichelis and Javi Garcia all came under fire at various points of the season but each answered the naysayers – and ended up the rightful owners of a deserved Premier League winners’ medal.
Hart was the subject of intense media scrutiny before Manuel Pellegrini took the decision to drop him in October.
The England keeper was criticised for his role in City’s unlikely defeats at Cardiff City and Aston Viila – some also put him at fault for one of Scotland’s goals in England’s 3-2 friendly win at Wembley.
Pellegrini was unmoved, but when Hart’s mix-up with Matija Nastasic allowed Fernando Torres to grab three points for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, he decided to banish the 27-year-old to the substitutes bench.
After making appearances in cup competitions, Hart finally grabbed the gloves back from Costel Pantilimon in December – and was soon back to his best, playing a key role in the Blues’ surge to the title.
The Brazil-bound keeper admitted it wasn’t an easy campaign.
“It’s been a good season but a tough season,” he said. “It’s one I’ve really enjoyed. It’s been difficult for me personally but the beauty of this team is that we have people who can fill in.”
Hart also hailed his Romanian understudy. “Costel was brilliant,” he said. “A pleasure to work with. As a goalkeeping unit I think we are really blessed and I am proud to be part of it.”
Demichelis is another to have experienced the unforgiving glare of the media spotlight.
Doubts were raised over the Argentine’s ability to adapt to the English game.
And the catcalls reached fever pitch when he was sent off after giving away a penalty in City’s Champions League clash with Barcelona. That criticism was harsh and often over the top – and the ponytailed centre-half bounced back with a series of fine displays.
At Hull City, when Vincent Kompany was sent off, he took over at the back and ensured the Blues left East Yorkshire with a clean sheet and what turned out to be a vital three points.
“The most beautiful thing is when you win a title,” the former Bayern Munich man said.
“This is incredible. It is amazing, really nice.” Demichelis has been taking English lessons – and reckons fans will also see an improvement there over the coming months.
“It’s difficult for me to speak,” he said. “But I promise that next season I will speak more.”
Completing the hat-trick is Garcia. Signed in August 2012, he took time to settle and bore the brunt of some criticism. Some claimed the Spaniard could not pass and was often caught out of position.
But with niggles to Fernandinho and Yaya Toure he proved an able deputy and came into his own with a number of resolute anchorman performances that allowed Toure to rampage up the pitch to devastating effect.
“You can always be better,” he said. “But I feel good because I played more games.
“At the beginning, it was difficult for me because I didn’t play so much but in the middle (of the season) I started to play more. All of us have quality. You just need minutes to show the boss and the supporters that you can play.”
After a season like this, not many would argue with that.
City fan banned for three years for throwing coin at rival supporters
Jordan Roscoe hurled a 20p piece after Sunderland scored at the Etihad stadium on April 16
The incident happened after Sunderland scored at the Etihad Stadium in April
Die-hard Manchester City fan Jordan Roscoe was given a three year soccer ban by magistrates for throwing a coin at rival supporters.
Roscoe, 19, hurled the 20 pence piece after Sunderland had scored at the Etihad Stadium on April 16.
“It was a moment of utter madness which he deeply regrets”, said his lawyer Barry Cuttle.
Roscoe, of Consort Close, Bollington, was also fined £110 with £85 costs and £20 surcharge.
He pleaded guilty to throwing a missile onto the pitch.
Mr Cuttle said Roscoe had retaliated after away fans had been throwing coins.
“Roscoe has been a City fan all his life through thick and thin – mostly thin.
“It’s a very sad situation”, added Mr Cuttle.
Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said several stewards spotted Roscoe throwing the coin.
He later gave a no comment interview to the police.
Sagna to sign after cup final, £16m Benatia deal close, Napoli want Jovetic
The Blues are close to completing moves for two defenders but could lose Stevan Jovetic to Serie A - find out the latest in our transfer round-up!
The protracted pursuit of Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna appears to be nearing an end.
The Frenchman will agree to move to the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer after taking part in the Gunners' FA Cup final clash with Hull City at the weekend.
The Blues are also set for a further defensive boost, having reportedly edged out both Chelsea and United to secure the £16m-rated Roma centre-half Mehdi Benatia.
Manuel Pellegrini could be forced to consider the future of one of his left-backs, however.
Liverpool are believed to be interested in signing Gael Clichy in the summer, with the Frenchman potentially looking to move on for guaranteed first-team football.
And finally, Stevan Jovetic is being linked with an instant return to Italy with Napoli after an injury-hit first season in England.
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[/spoiler]Everton have joined Newcastle in the chase for Tottenham and England winger Andros Townsend. Toffees boss Roberto Martinez tried to take the 22-year-old, ruled out of the World Cup to have ankle surgery, to Goodison on loan last summer. Daily Mirror
Liverpool are willing to meet a £20.4m release clause fee for Valencia midfielder Dani Parejo to bring the 25-year-old to Anfield this summer, according to Spanish newspaper Superdeporte. TalkSHIT
Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen, 27, remains undecided on his future at the club and is expected to wait to learn the identity of Spurs' new manager before making his decision. Metro
Everton want Swansea's record £12m signing Wilfried Bony, 25, to replace on-loan Romelu Lukaku and spearhead their attack next season. South Wales Evening Post
Chelsea are prepared to offer £30m-rated Brazil defender David Luiz, 27, in exchange for Bayern Munich's Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic, 27, plus £15m. Daily Mirror
Tottenham have been put on alert amid suggestions Napoli will get rid of Macedonia international Goran Pandev, 30, who has scored seven goals in 27 league appearances this season. Napoli are thought to be keen on Spurs midfielders Sandro, 25, and Erik Lamela, 22. TalkSHIT
Manchester United's apparent manager-in-waiting Louis van Gaal, 62, has given executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward a list of potential signings who include Bayern Munich's Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, 30. Guardian
Liverpool's 31-goal striker Luis Suarez, 27, is happy at Anfield and will not be asking for a summer move, says manager Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool Echo
Sevilla are confident of keeping midfield star Ivan Rakitic out of the clutches of Liverpool and Chelsea after expressing their intention to tie the 26-year-old down to a new three-year deal in the coming weeks. Talksport
Anderlecht's Senegalese defender Cheikhou Kouyate, 24, is still interesting Arsenal, who made an enquiry in the January transfer window. Daily Star
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been in Belgium to check on the progress of Eden Hazard's younger brother Thorgen, 21, who is earning rave reviews while playing at Zulte Waregem, on loan from the Stamford Bridge club. DSSC
Newly promoted Leicester City are lining up a bid to sign Manchester United's attacking midfielder Nick Powell, 20, as they prepare for life in the Premier League. Daily Express
Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta, 32, is unsure whether Arsenal will offer him a new contract when his current deal runs out next year. Daily Mirror
Newcastle are ready to make a bid for West Brom's England Under-21 striker Saido Berahino, 20. Sun
Ryan Giggs has left Louis van Gaal in limbo after asking Manchester United for more time to decide his future. Daily Star
Managerless Championship side Brighton are considering bringing former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood to the club. Daily Mirror
Former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay has distanced himself from the vacant job at the Amex Stadium. Argus
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor, 30, has given an interview to former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba in which he says he has never played for a contract and that when he moved out of the way in the Spurs wall for a Stewart Downing free-kick, "it was like something was going to kill me". Daily Express
Wayne Rooney has criticised England's training pitch in Portugal as "spongy and a bit small". Sun
Garry Monk, recently appointed as the permanent manager of Swansea City, has warned his players that every one of them will have to fight for the honour of wearing the club's shirt. Wales Online
Stoke defender Robert Huth, 29, is on track to end more than six months of cartilage trouble by rejoining his team-mates for pre-season training. Stoke Sentinel
The full cost of David Moyes's brief reign as Manchester United manager has been revealed to be £50.4m in lost prize money and wages paid to the 51-year-old. Daily Telegraph
The Aston Villa Supporters' Trust has urged American owner Randy Lerner to sell the club to someone who has the club's claret-and-blue heritage at heart. Birmingham Mail
Newcastle are unlikely to field a B team in any version of a revamped Football League, but the Magpies could be open to the idea of a "feeder club". Newcastle Chronicle
Steve Bruce's face will feature on tiger-striped toilet seats created to celebrate Hull City's FA Cup final appearance. Hull Daily Mail
A Manchester United fan who lost his £10 bet with a friend after Liverpool finished higher in the table decided to pay out in 50p pieces - one for each of United's league titles - in a commemorative frame. Metro
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