With question marks still hanging over the future of Blues No 1 Joe Hart, these are five shot stoppers that City head coach Manuel Pellegrini should try to sign this summer ….
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Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
The Spain international captain has once again found himself warming the substitutes’ bench at the Santiago Bernabeu this season in La Liga, and this despite the fact that previous boss Jose Mourinho has left the Spanish capital.
And as a result, the 32-year-old is not thought likely to quit los Blancos come the end of the campaign, paving the path clear for City to make their own move for one of the most decorated footballers the world has ever seen.
Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)
Had previous City head coach Roberto Mancini not been given his marching orders at the end of the previous campaign, then according to the Italian’s right-hand man David Platt, City were intending to buy the Potters shot stopper in order to replace Hart at Eastlands this season, which is exactly what the man brought in to replace Mancini should also do this summer.
Victor Valdes (FC Barcelona)
Initially it had been expected that the Spain international would be moving to mega-rich Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco next season after confirming his intention to quit the La Liga champions this summer on a lucrative Bosman-style free transfer.
However, with still no official announcement from either party, there is hope that City may be able to steal in and pinch he experienced Spaniard from under Monaco’s noses.
Jose Manuel Reina (Liverpool)
Another Spain international who looks almost certain to be changing clubs next season after the shot stopper’s season-long loan spell in Serie A with Napoli comes to an end this summer and with the keeper’s dream of a return to his former club FC Barcelona now looking like it is over, the City boss could do far worse than trying to sign Reina in what would surely be a cut-price deal for next season.
Diego Lopez (Real Madrid)
Another goalkeeper also looking set to leave La Liga come the end of the campaign is the Madrid No 1, who has been in sensational form between the posts throughout the season, so much so that club captain Iker Casillas has so far been unable to regain his first-team place in the league.
However, with rumours now suggesting that this will be the Spain interntional’s final campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu, City should act fast and sign the custodian up.