Reports: Manchester City agree a £30m deal for Roma defender Mehdi Benatia

Mehdi Benatia signed for Roma last season from Udinese

Premier League champions Manchester City are exceptionally close to a deal that would see Roma defender Mehdi Benatia move to the Emirates.

However the deal is being held up until the Italian side can find a replacement for Benatia so their Champions League campaign isn’t threatened.

Roma are under no obligation to sell and the Mirror report that despite City’s £30 million fee agreement they will only sell if they can obtain an adequate replacement.

One name that has been linked to the Italian side is Colombian central defender Eder Alvarez Balanta, a player who has enjoyed a good time in Argentina lately. He is currently with his country for the World Cup and is widely considered to be one of the best young defenders in the world right now.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has made signing a new centre back a priority, as he looks to find a long term partner for club captain Vincent Kompany.

At one point it had been believed that City’s rivals Manchester United would sign Benatia would sign Benatia but now it appears that the champions have won the race.