Manchester City are finally set to make their first signing since the end of last season after the Premier League champions agreed on a deal for Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell.
City boss Roberto Mancini has been frustrated with the club’s failure to strengthen his squad, but the Italian should be appeased by the imminent capture of highly-rated England international Rodwell.
“Everton have agreed an undisclosed fee with Manchester City for the transfer of Jack Rodwell,” a statement on Everton’s website read on Sunday.
“The midfielder is set to undergo a medical with the Premier League champions on Sunday.”
Rodwell, 21, is regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League and has already won two caps for England after making his debut against Spain last year.
He has also been named in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Italy in Switzerland.
Although Rodwell has been troubled by injury problems throughout his short career, including a hamstring problem which denied him the chance of playing at Euro 2012 and the Olympics, he had still showed enough promise to be linked with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.
His capture would add more energy and pace to City’s midfield as they seek to defend their English title and mount a renewed challenge in the Champions League.
Mancini, speaking to ITV Sport, said: “Jack is a young player, he will be an important midfielder for the England national team for the future, and for us I hope.
“We needed to put in (midfield) a player with good attitude, who wants to win, and I think he will be a top player for sure.”
But Mancini, whose side face Chelsea in the Community Shield at Villa Park on Sunday, would still like further additions in defence and attack.
He had hoped to sign Arsenal forward Robin van Persie, but a move for the Dutchman has floundered in recent weeks, while City’s sporting director, Brian Marwood, has so far been unable to agree a deal for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger after the Reds demanded a STG27 million ($A40 million) transfer fee.
Only this week, Mancini hit out at Marwood when asked about City’s transfer policy.
“I am not happy. But I won’t say anything at the moment,” he said.
“For this you should talk to Brian Marwood, not me. I am not the sporting director. I can’t say anything about the players.
“After three months or four months I don’t know what to say about this situation.”
