Benjani to seal £9,7 million move to Manchester City

Benjani to seal £9,7 million move to Manchester City

• Benjani fires ZIFA warning over coach

• Portsmouth open contract talks with Benjani

• Juventus set for £7 million Benjani raid

• Mwaruwari nets 8th league goal in Pompey romp

• Mwaruwari tops premiership scorers' charts

• Mwaruwari scores in Manchester United draw

• Mwaruwari fires Pompey into Asia Trophy final

• Mwaruwari sets Pompey target

By Mduduzi Mathuthu

MANCHESTER City will complete a shock £9,7 million move for 12-goal Portsmouth striker Benjani Mwaruwari in the next 5 hours.

New Zimbabwe.com understands the fee has been agreed between Portsmouth and City.

The player now needs to agree personal terms and pass a medical for the switch to go through.
City are expected to offer Mwaruwari a three-and-half-year contract worth an estimated £11 million, or £65 000 a week.

Mwaruwari told New Zimbabwe.com at noon Thursday: “I am still in Portsmouth but I have been told a deal has been agreed between the clubs. I spoke to Harry Redknapp, my manager and he told me it’s a good deal for the club and myself in financial terms.

“If I leave, and it’s 90 percent certain I am going, I leave with Harry’s blessings. I can’t thank him and the Portsmouth supporters enough for all they have done for my career.”

Portsmouth had this week offered Mwaruwari an improved two year extension to his contract in reaction to City's interest. But a deal could not be signed, New Zimbabwe.com understands, because of minor disagreements on personal terms.

Mwaruwari joined Portsmouth in January 2006 for a then club record fee of £4,1 million from French club, Auxerre.

His impending move will likely dismay the Fratton Park faithful, who have seen the Portsmouth striker finally fulfil his potential on the south coast this season by scoring 12 league goals. Only Manchester United's Ronaldo and Arsenal's Adebayor have scored more goals.

Benjani tops the club's scoring charts and on Wednesday evening his manager Harry Redknapp issued praise in the Zimbabwean's direction, following Portsmouth's defeat at Manchester United.

Portsmouth are already desperately short of firepower having lost David Nugent and Nwankwo Kanu to injury. Redknapp has moved to compensate for this shortfall by bringing in Milan Baros from Lyon in a loan deal. Portsmouth were also chasing Tottenham striker, Jemaine Defoe.
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com