City tracking Zabaleta

Mark Hughes may be about to welcome another new face

By Francisco Acedo   Last updated: 28th August 2008

Pablo Javier Zabaleta Espanyol

Zabaleta: Release clause activated

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Skysports.com understands Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Espanyol's Pablo Zabaleta.

Sources in Spain suggest that City have already entered into talks with their Primera Liga counterparts regarding the midfielder.

The fee involved is rumoured to be around 8million euros (£6.4m), with the Argentine thought to have a clause in his contract which is activated once that figure is offered.

Should Espanyol be forced into a sale, the Catalan club will also have to hand 50 per cent of the fee over to Zabaleta's advisor Marcelo Arguello.

Italian giants Juventus are also reported to be interested in a player who recently helped his country pick up a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, but City appear to be leading the race.

The situation should become clearer on Friday as Zabaleta has called a press conference to discuss his future.