City plan move for Demichelis

Argentinian centre-half alternative option to Pepe

Manchester City are lining up a surprise move for centre half Martín Demichelis, despite the Argentinian having only joined Atletico Madrid last month.

Spanish radio station Cadena SER claim that City have offered the player a two year contract, and that Demichelis has asked Atletico to let him leave.

The Argentinian, named in the La Liga team of the season last year, was a regular under Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga, and will be reunited with his old boss should he move to Manchester.

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain was reported to have flown to Madrid yesterday, and it was assumed that he was hoping to tie up a deal for Portuguese defender Pepe. However, Real Madrid are reluctant to sell so City are though to have turned their attention instead to Demichelis.