Benjani completes deal to Manchester City

Benjani finally completes his move to Manchester City in a restructured deal

Nearly a week after the transfer window closed, Benjani will complete his move to Manchester City from Porsmouth today. Both clubs have resolved the issues surrounding the transfer and reached agreement over a restructured deal and £7.6 million fee.

Benjani is the third highest scorer in the Premier League this season, and had been left in a state of flux, as the transfer deadline passed on Thursday. Manchester City had been trying to pull out of the original deal after a previously unknown knee injury came to light during his medical examination. However with the Premier league's encouragement, they moved to renegotiate the agreement with Portsmouth and will finalise the signing today. It is understood they will make a smaller down-payment and a larger proportion of the fee will depend on the number of appearances he makes for Manchester City.

Benjani deal to Manchester City in limbo

Benjani deal stalls as Manchester City pull out at the last minute

There were bizarre events in Manchester last night, as the Manchester City board tried to abort the transfer of Benjani from Portsmouth at the last minute. Benjani himself not only arrived late, after missing two planes, but also failed to properly sign the required paperwork. It is understood however, that the Premier League is prepared to overlook this, with Portsmouth and City manager Eriksson, keen for the transfer to still go through. The mystery is why the Manchester City board does not want to proceed, and they are not telling why.

Sources close to the club are indicating the board are unhappy with the way particular issues have been handled by Benjani's agents, however the whole transfer is now in a state of limbo.

Moyes - Everton to finish fourth

Moyes confident the Toffees will stick in fourth

A bullish David Moyes is confident Everton can stay where they are, and finish in fourth place in the Premier League. Speaking after the goaless draw against Tottenham Moyes was happy to back his Everton team against any of the chasing pack.

He added “But in the same breath, Aston Villa are a strong team this year, Manchester City have done exceptionally well and Portsmouth, Blackburn and West Ham can do it. If we can make fourth it would be outstanding, but I don’t think there’s any point in me talking about that until a month to go in the season if we are still there." While neighbours Liverpool are weighed down by the millstone of expectation (and so they should given their resources compared to the teams around them) Moyes is happy to keep working quietly away, as Everton have steadily climbed the table.

A fourth placed finish would be a truly outstanding achievement, but the gut feel of Footy Focus is that Liverpool will get it. They have too many good players and despite it all, a good manager to continue in their present wretched form. Liverpool have the second best defensive record, and have still only been beaten three times this season, which can only be bettered by Arsenal. There's a great team in there trying to get out, and we think they will have that bit too much quality to be overtaken for fourth.

Premier League News - Torino bid for Bianchi

Bianchi Premier League nightmare coming to an end

Torino have sumitted a £6m bid for Rolando Bianchi to Manchester City. The Italian club want him on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent move in the summer.

Bianchi cost the Blues £8.8m from Reggina in the summer, but has scored just four Premier League goals and is no longer an automatic first team pick.

Bianchi's representatives are discussing his future with Sven Goran Eriksson and anticipate the go ahead to negotiate a move back to Italy to end his City nightmare.

Lazio are also believed to be closely monitoring the situation and could step in if Torino fail to close the deal.