Source: Daily_Mail
Man City in bid to snap up Bentley as Spurs prepare for Petrov swap deal
David Bentley is set to be handed the golden ticket of a move to Manchester City, who last night closed in on a swap deal with Tottenham involving Bulgaria winger Martin Petrov.
The initial deal for Bentley will be a long-term loan, but it presents the chance for him to restart his career after a dismal 13-month spell at Spurs, who are also signing Niko Kranjcar from Portsmouth for a cut-price £2million.
If the Bentley deal can be completed before today's 5pm deadline and both managers want the deal to happen then he will be reunited with Mark Hughes, the boss behind his most productive spell at Blackburn.
It will also see him join the superstar cast of the City dressing room a week after a conviction for drink driving, for which he received a one-year ban. Bentley was also fined two weeks' wages by Spurs for crashing his Porsche into a lamppost while under the influence.
Bentley has seen his career nosedive since moving from Blackburn to Spurs in a £15million deal last summer the player has yet to start for Spurs in the Premier League this season.
The deal also suits Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who is looking for a left-sidedplayer to replace broken leg victim Luka Modric, who is out for at least six weeks. Chairman Daniel Levy was spearheading the talks last night.
Bulgarian Petrov, 30, a pacy winger, will want to prove himself after falling out with Hughes while Kranjcar will team up again with Redknapp, with whom he helped Portsmouth win the 2008 FA Cup.
Tottenham were keen on Petrov prior to his £4.7m move to City from Atletico Madridtwo years ago. However, the Bulgarian, capped 77 times but with onlyone year left on his current contract and valued at £3.5m, has slipped well down the pecking order at Eastlands following the wave of new arrivals this summer.
Petrov was allowed to emain in England while he sorts out his futureby Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov ahead of World Cup qualifiersagainst Montenegro and Italy.
He could still sign even if there is a snag in Bentley's move. Spurs rate Bentley at around £12m and rejected an £8m approach from Aston Villa.
Petrov spent last night in a London hotel and his move to Spurs was backed by Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov, his Bulgaria team-mate. 'I hope Martin goes to Spurs,' said the ex-Tottenham star.
'He does not deserve such a relationship with Manchester City and Spurs are a bigger club than City.'
