Wednesday Transfer news: Man City eye young Serbian defender

The Barclays English Premier League champions have been unusually subdued this summer as far as welcoming new faces at the Etihad is concerned with inside reports suggesting a mild rift between Roberto Mancini and the Sheikhs over inactivity at the transfer market with only the signing of Jack Rodwell from Everton to write home about this summer. Yet as the deadline day in the United Kingdom approaches ever so close, so are the rumours. Various sources have revealed that the Italian has been given the go ahead to tie up some attractive deals over the next few days to get at par with the spending spree of Chelsea and Manchester United. Man City fans might just as well have to keep close eyes on a few mouth watering deals surrounding the side from Eastend.

Matija Nastasic

TRENTO, ITALY – JULY 22: Matija Nastasic of Fiorentina in action during the pre-season friendly match between AC Fiorentina and Vigonovo on July 22, 2012 in Moena near Trento, Italy. (Photo by Dino Panato/Getty Images)

The 19-year old talented Serbian defender is already highly spoken of, and although we thought that a move to the Premier League is too early for the youngster, it seems the Fiorentina man has caught the eyes of Roberto Mancini as he embarks on strengthening his champion squad for the Champions League and defending the Premier League.

A deal has reportedly been struck with Fiorentina, with the Viola agreeing to sale one of their prized assets for a prospective fee of around 12 million pounds. It is also believed that struggling Montenegrin defender Stefan Savic, signed in 2011 from Partizan Belgrade, will move the other way on loan deal. Roberto Mancini is believed to have personally put his signature on the signing of Nastasic as the Man City boss is a great admirer of the Serbian international’s talent and his signing, provided things go as plan, would erase the disappointment around the Etihad after first choice target Daniel Agger’s proposed move from Liverpool seems to have broken off, partially angering Mancini on the champions’ transfer policy this summer.

While this particular deal is being worked on at an advanced stage, the champions are also hoping to sell out of favour forward Roque Santa Cruz and misutilized striker Edin Dzeko to clubs in Italy or Germany to free up some cash to bring in rich talents from across Europe late in the transfer window, including England international Theo Walcott from Arsenal as both City and Liverpool have been alerted by the news from the Emirates that contract talks between the former Southampton man and the Arsenal management have hit a roadblock with the Gunners preferring to sell the 23-year old for a fair deal rather than seeing him move on next year as a free agent.