Premier League giants Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly going head-to-head for the services of Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Martinez-c24468, with the Citizens having the upper hand due to their financial muscle.
Spanish midfielders have rose to prominence ever since Pep Guardiola’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 romped to the 2009 Champions League finale in Rome.
Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xabi-Alonso-c37045 are now considered household names in football. The tiki-taka style they employ has also become synonymous with the game and many clubs now seek play-makers in order to elevate their sides to the next level.
Manchester United’s midfield for the better part of the last twenty years has been bossed by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-Scholes-c29394. However the Ginger Prince is close to hanging up his boots for sure and will surely leave a gaping hole in the centre of the fabled
Old Trafford turf.
A hole, which cannot be filled with the quality of midfielders, Sir http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson currently has at his disposal.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Anderson-c5565 is way too inconsistent to be considered as a top quality player, while Cleverley spends more time on the sidelines than he does on the pitch. Furthermore, Giggs is also set to retire in the near future, making the priority of hiring a new recruit
even more urgent.
Javi Martinez has emerged as a leading candidate to fill the void left by Scholes and has reportedly caught the eye of Fergie despite the likes of Mario Goetze and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863 on the market.
However the veteran tactician is not alone in the race to acquire the Bilbao star, as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mancini-c23323 is aiming to add Martinez’s name to his already expensively assembled squad.
In terms of financial power, City are way ahead of their rivals and will surely oust them in any transfer by simply adding more figures to the check they present. United, on the other hand will entice the Spaniard by promising regular game time as well as
the stage on which he can catapult his fame to a higher audience.
Capable of playing as a midfielder or as a centre-back, there is high demand for the 23-year-old due to his versatility. Besides England, as is the case with every notable talent, there is also rumoured to be interest from La Liga sides Barcelona and Real
Madrid, alongside Italy’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan.
Though, the Premiership, looks the more likely destination, it’s still not certain that which half of Manchester will be chanting his name if he does arrive in the country.
Athletic Bilbao have placed a €40m price-tag on their prized asset but are willing to take down their evaluation to €30 million if they can find a potential suitor.
United’s need is far greater than City’s but the financial aspect of the much-talked about switch transfer could sway things in favour of Mancini and his men when the summer window opens in the next few months.
Tags: