Manuel Pellegrini's installation as Manchester City's new manager is still to be formally confirmed but team restructuring at the Etihad Stadium continues apace with Fernandinho, the Brazilian midfielder, close to completing a move from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Fernandinho was spotted arriving at a private Manchester hospital for a medical yesterday morning as the transfer entered its final stages.

Strong tackling, athletic and capable of operating as a deep-lying playmaker, the 28-year-old has been on City’s radar for almost a year but the £42.5 million buy-out clause in his contract was initially deemed far too steep.

With a compromise – around £30 million – apparently agreed, Fernandinho will join Jesus Navas, the 27-year-old Spanish wide man, who is signing from Sevilla for a fee rising to £27 million, at City. An "old-fashioned" orthodox winger, Navas has clearly overcome the problems with acute homesickness and anxiety which hampered him earlier in his career.

Having left Malaga, Pellegrini is currently finalising his deal at City with the appointment scheduled to be confirmed by the beginning of next week at the very latest.

Fernandinho and Navas could soon be joined by the Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and the Malaga midfielder Isco as Pellegrini aims to add adventure, pace and fluency to the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur are poised to appoint Franco Baldini as their technical director after the Italian left his post as the general manager of Roma. Baldini has been keen to move to White Hart Lane and work with the manager, Andre Villas-Boas, with whom he has a good relationship.

Spurs continue to chase the Brazil striker Leandro Damiao. Internacional would consider selling him for £25 million, although they would want closer to £30 million. Tottenham failed with a £13 million bid in January.
Guardian Service