Man City Transfer News: Martin Demichelis Is Pepe Alternative?

by Joseph Dempsey

Mirror. New City boss Manuel Pellegrini is in the market for a centre-back this summer after Matija Nastasic was ruled out of the first month-and-a-half of the new Premier League season with an ankle injury. And, after allowing Kolo Toure go to Liverpool, the Chilean is light of options. Pellegrini could feasibly use Yaya Toure, Javi Garcia or Micah Richards as a makeshift centre-half but his move for Real Madrid's Pepe have signalled his concerns at the back. And these worries were intensified by the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in pre-season last weekend. Real, however, continue to insist Pepe is not for sale which has led Pellegrini to veteran Argentinian centre-back Demichelis. The 32-year-old is familiar with Pellegrini having played under his stewardship at Malaga for the last two years before joining Atletico last month. But a further report in the Express claims Demichelis wants Atletico to rescind his contract so that he may join City instead. City are prepared to offer the defender a two-year-contract and a place in their starting line-up in an effort to coax him away from Atletico.

Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.