Manchester City have set their sights on signing Portuguese defender, Ruben Dias from Portuguese club, SL Benfica. The deal which is expected to be sealed this week is said to be in the region of £65 million.
As part of the deal, City’s Argentina centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, 32, is believed to be moving in the opposite direction. The deal involving Otamendi is expected to fetch City around £13.7 million.
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has been on the lookout for a right-sided central defender since Vincent Kompany left the club last summer. Dias, 23, was captain for Benfica’s win over Moreirense on Saturday (September 26) and hugged team-mates and sporting director Rui Costa at the final whistle.
After the match, Dias – who had scored his 12th goal for the club in 133 appearances – told Benfica TV: “It was a very important game for me and being able to mark it with a goal was very special.
“I believe that everyone already has an idea why I hugged Rui Costa.”
While Dias’ transfer is yet to be completed, only a few minor details remain to be agreed.
The failure to secure a replacement for former skipper Kompany was seen as a major reason for City not putting up more of a challenge to Liverpool in last season’s Premier League title race. Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, was initially City’s top target this summer, but the Italian club wanted £80 million for the Senegal defender, which City was not prepared to pay.
