Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has confirmed that his side are within striking distance of wrapping up an £11 million deal for 21-year-old Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng.

The German international – who is one of the Bundesliga’s hottest properties – has found himself squarely in City’s sights for the past six months or so, and is now expected to complete his protracted move to Eastlands within the next few weeks.

Speaking to The Manchester Evening News, Mancini said;

“We are quite close to signing him, Boateng is a good player, a young player and strong. He plays for the national team and there is a good chance to get him.

He can play three different positions; central defence, right full-back or in midfield. If we find a player like that it is better for us.”

The Italian coach will hope that the signing of Boateng will go some way towards shoring up a defense that has shipped more goals than any other inside the top seven of the Premier League this season.