Hughes set to land defender

Manchester City look set to complete the £5m signing of Chelsea defender Tal Ben-Haim this week.

Eastlands chief Mark Hughes has been looking for defensive reinforcements since arriving from Blackburn earlier in the summer and quickly identified the former Bolton star as a top target.

Ben-Haim is fourth in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge behind John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho and Alex so will be allowed to leave the Londoners.

Reports claim the Israel international ace has been offered a four-year deal worth £60,000 a week to take him back to the north west.

However, Ben-Haim would not be guaranteed first-team football at City unless Hughes plans to move Micah Richards to right-back and break up his partnership with captain Richard Dunne.