Manchester City target Mehdi Benatia is becoming increasingly unsettled at Serie A side Roma, according to fresh reports in Italy.
Il Tempo claims the Moroccan centre-half feels betrayed due to broken promised over a lucrative new contract and is anxious to leave the capital before the 2014-15 campaign gets started.
However, there is something of a stalemate as Premier League champions City are yet to match Roma’s £32million valuation of the 27-year-old and the Italians are not willing to sell him on the cheap.
The report reveals that the Blues have already made it clear they are willing to pay Benatia more than £3m per year – almost double his current salary – and that he is virtually guaranteed a starting berth in Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
The player is thought to be keen to make the move as he sees League Cup holders City as a team with a realistic chance of winning the Champions League next season.
City are said to face competition from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, who have not submitted a bid or entered into advanced negotiations regarding personal terms but do have an interest in the defender.
If Pellegrini fails to land Benatia he could turn his attention back to long-term target Eliaquim Mangala, who could leave Porto this summer.