Blackburn to benefit from Man City’s move for Arsenal full-back
Published:Manchester CIty are expected to complete the signing of Gael Clichy on Monday paving the way for Nedum Onuoha to leave the club.
Roberto Mancini has beaten off competition from Liverpool for the signing of Arsenal’s £8m-rated full-back and the Frenchman will be a welcome addition at Eastlands ahead of the new season.
The arrival of Clichy means Onuoha’s services are surplus to requirements leaving Blackburn Rovers likely to succeed in their £6m bid for the full-back.
A product of the Manchester CIty academy, Onuoha impressed in his early years at the club but was sent on loan to Sunderland last season despite signing a five-year deal with the Citizens in the summer of 2009.
Onuoha has fallen out of favour with Mancini and the 24-year-old knows he has to leave Eastlands if he is to gain regular first team football, and Blackburn looks the most likely of destinations.
With Sunderland making moves for Manchester United defenders John O’Shea and Wes Brown, retuning to the north east looks a distant dream for the man who made 21 appearances for the England under-21 star.
Blackburn are prepared to offer the defender an escape route as Steve Kean looks to build a squad that is capable of challenging for the Europa League spots next season.
But while Kean has his sights on a run up the table, the bookmakers fear a tough campaign for Blackburn who are the sixth favourites to be relegated at 3/1.
The three promoted teams, Wigan and Wolves are the only sides shorter than Blackburn to be relegated and Onuoha will be considering Blackburn’s position before deciding on whether to join the Lancashire club.
