Liverpool defender could join ranks of champions Manchester City
Published:As they aim to launch a successful Premier League title defence, Manchester City are keen to bolster their defensive ranks, with Liverpool’s Daniel Agger interesting Roberto Mancini.
City’s pursuit of a central defender has long been speculated on, but it was initially thought that a move for Agger’s teammate Martin Skrtel was more likely earlier in the summer.
However, Liverpool’s reluctance to negotiate over their Slovakian centre half has led Mancini to switch his attentions to his regular defensive partner Agger.
The Premier League champions have now made an informal approach to the Reds regarding the availability of the Dane, and may be willing to break the £20m barrier to land their man.
Mancini is thought to value Agger at around £18m, but his current club feel his ability is on a par with that of Joleon Lescott, whom City paid Everton £22m for only two years ago.
Therefore, Brendan Rodgers is keen to recoup a similar fee to that garnered by his Merseyside rivals, though a part-exchange deal could prove tempting too.
Rodgers has long been a fan of City winger Adam Johnson, and with the wideman being used only sparingly in the latter stages of last season, he could be open to the idea of a move to Anfield.
It remains to be seen too whether or not Agger, a cult figure after six years with the Reds, would be willing to speak to the English champions, considering he has two years remaining on his current Anfield deal.
The astronomical wage packet he would likely be afforded by City would suggest that he’d be open to negotiations with the club though, whilst his new boss Rodgers must be tempted to sell in order to raise funds for new additions on Merseyside.
His interest in Swansea and Team GB star Joe Allen has been well-documented, and the young Northern Irish boss would almost certainly use a large portion of the potential fee for Agger to tie up a deal for the Welsh international.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
