Source: Man_City
City swoop for £11m Boateng
City have lined up their first signing of the summer, £11m German international defender Jerome Boateng. The Blues have rejected claims a deal has already been agreed with Hamburg for the 6ft 3ins star, and the Bundesliga club has also officially denied that a pre-contract agreement has been signed. But a source close to Hamburg confirmed to M.E.N. Sport the deal is already in place, and Boateng will join City on July 1 on a three-year contract worth £85,000 a week, with the Blues beating Bayern Munich to the player. And although Boateng himself was staying quiet, team-mate Joris Mathijsen yesterday said of the move: "When a club like Manchester City tries to get a player, a club like Hamburg doesn't have a chance." A Hamburg spokesman said: "Jorg Neubauer, Jerome Boateng's agent, has informed us the player wants to move. There is no deal agreed yet, however." But their coach Bruno Labbadia is already resigned to losing his man. He said: "Jerome told me his reasons for his move and I have to accept that. He told me today, but his agent already told me some days before. Everything was correct, so I can just wish all the best for him in the future." It is understood Neubauer met with City officials in March and they shook hands on a deal in early April, even though Bayern were also expressing a strong interest. Strong The two clubs have strong links after City signed Vincent Kompany from them two summers ago for around £6m, and went back for Nigel de Jong six months later for £14m. Boateng is the younger brother of Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, and is the Berlin-born son of a Ghanaian father and a German mother. The 21-year-old already has three full caps for Germany, and is rated by many as the best defender in the Bundesliga. He was signed by Hamburg from his hometown club Hertha Berlin in August 2007, and can play centre back or in either full-back position. The move is Roberto Mancini's first deal for next season ? and he is expected to line up Napoli's Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik next. Mancini tried to sign the £25m ace while he was at Inter Milan and is expected to face fierce competition from his former club for his signature. | Submit Comments| Comments (176)| PrintWhat's this? Emaildel.icio.usDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponNewsvineGoogle BookmarksNetscapeTechnoratiWindows LiveYahoo! MyWebMa.gnolia
