According to reports, Manchester City are reportedly mulling over a possible bid for Athletic Bilbao defender Javi Martinez. The 23 year old started off his career at Athletic as a midfielder but was used more as a central defender by Argentine gaffer Marcelo Bielsa during the 2011/12 season.
Under Bielsa, Bilbao reached the finals of the Europa League and Spanish Kings Cup before losing to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona respectively.
A member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup team, he was also part of La Furia Roja’s 2011 Euro U-21 Championship winning team. A sizable transfer fee is expected to be required to prise Martinez away from Bilbao, with sources claiming that City might have to splash out around £25m for the 23 year old defender.
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