Ben Haim Set for City in £4m Deal
TAL BEN-HAIM
By dixon9
July 23 2008
Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim is set to agree personal terms with Mark Hughes’s Man City after the two clubs agreed a £4m deal. The Israeli defender didn’t travel with the first team squad to China despite being fit which sparked rumours that he wasn’t part of Scolari´s plans for the new Chelsea.
Ben Haim was always going to be down in the pecking order with the likes of Terry, Carvalho, Alex and new signing Ivanovic ahead of him not to mention the club has promising defenders such as Mancienne and Magnay from the younger ranks.
The dressing room will probably miss Ben Haim as he contributed much to the atmosphere during last season according to his soon to be former team mates but he has been training on his own at the club’s Cobham training and academy complex whilst the squad are in China.
Reports state that the Israeli defender chose City over Newcastle – no doubt encouraged by the Manchester club’s plans to revolutionise their recent standing in the echelons of domestic football with the finance of their new owner and the nous of Hughes.
City defender Dunne has been confirmed as club captain by Hughes so Ben Haim will be in competition for a place with both him and Richards.
Current net spend under Scolari stands at around 24M IN and 11M OUT – so 13M - although this could rise substantially if Robinho finally signs.
This new departure from Stamford Bridge follows Sidwell and Makelele – could Pizarro be next?
He has been training with the first team since he returned from QPR and Magnay is JT is disguise.
Ivanovic got his chance this afternoon but wasn't troubled
Good times ahead!!
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Anyone got any sensible opinions on Mr. Ben Haim. A lot of City fans aren't too keen on him, but I know a few Bolton fans who were gutted to see him go.
I really haven't seen enough of the guy to make my mind up if he would be a good signing for us.
He´s a bit slow (got well shown up by Torres) but then that´s not really his game. Good in the air and passing and bringing the ball out of defence.
Nothing wrong with him - a good steady defender but its just that Terry and Carvalho were in front of him.
Big Sam was sad to lose him from Bolton and tried to get him back when at Newcastle, and now Keegan also wanted him but apparantly he selected City over the geordies.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
LINK
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.