Manchester City are closing the net around Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi,
with the Argentine due to seal a switch to the Etihad Stadium.
Otamendi has been chased by Manchester City's rivals Manchester United, but it
is the Citizens who are in the lead and on the verge of capturing the centre-back.
Valencia have insisted throughout the summer that Otamendi will only leave if a
club are willing to meet his €50m buy-out clause.
But Manchester City have found a bid which is acceptable to Los Che and should
see the Argentine plying his trade for the Citizens.
According to Valencia-based daily Super Deporte, Manchester City have agreed to
pay Valencia €40m for Otamendi, along with loaning Eliaquim Mangala to the
Spanish club for the season.
In ordinary circumstances, Valencia would not be able to afford Mangala's wages,
but Manchester City have agreed to subsidise a portion of the defender's salary
for the duration of the loan.
Manchester City switched their attention to Otamendi after failing with a bid to
sign Diego Godin from Atletico Madrid, with the Uruguayan choosing to stay put at
the Vicente Calderon.
The news will come as a blow to Manchester United, with Red Devils boss Louis
van Gaal still searching for another defender.