Manchester City transfer news: City hoping to tie up £14.5m deal for Porto midfielder Fernando 'by the end of the week' as Manuel Pellegrini eyes further strengthening

City have revived their interest in the Brazilian midfielder after missing out on him and team-mate Eliaquim Mangala in January

Jack de Menezes
Monday 02 June 2014 13:45 BST
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Porto's Fernando could join Manchester City by the end of the week
Porto's Fernando could join Manchester City by the end of the week

Manchester City are hopeful that they can finally complete the £14.5m transfer for Porto midfielder Fernando before the start of the World Cup after pursuing the Brazilian for nearly a year.

The Premier League champions attempted to sign the 26-year-old in January along with his club team-mate Eliaquim Mangala before failing on transfer deadline day. Fernando subsequently signed a new contract, but City have upped their offer for his services and look set to complete their first signing of the summer later this week.

Fernando made 25 league appearances as Porto finished third in the Portuguese Primiera Liga, but his only goal last season came in the cup and he is yet to make his debut for Brazil, having made three appearances for the Under-20’s.

With a deal for Fernando set to be completed by the end of the week, City will wait until after the World Cup in Brazil before returning for Mangala as he is set to feature in France’s plans.

With Manuel Pellegrini preparing to defend the league title he won in his first year at the Etihad, he will have to negotiate his second season with the implications handed down from Uefa for their breach of Financial Fair Play regulations.

With a smaller Champions League squad due to their 21-man squad limit and the home-grown player ruling still withstanding – although Uefa are yet to clarify City’s belief that they will only need five players qualified as home-grown rather than eight – City will also have to limit their net transfer spending to £49m.

That could rule out a move for another target in Roma defender Mehdi Benatia, with the Italian side slapping a reported £50m price tag on the 27-year-old Moroccan. With Bacary Sagna set to complete a free transfer to the club after coming to the end of his Arsenal contract, City hope that Benatia will push for a move in the hope of reducing the asking price, with Pellegrini clearly identifying his defence as an area of concern.

With reported interest in Cesc Fabregas, any move for the former Arsenal captain could depend on the future of Yaya Toure, who continues to puzzle after seemingly confirming his desire to leave the club before changing his perceived decision on more than one occasion.

A recent interview published by French outlet France Football appeared to show Toure’s desire to leave after admitting he would like to play for Paris St-Germain, but he later went on radio station RFI to clarify his comments and claimed that he does not have plans beyond the World Cup just yet.

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