City slicker: Owen Hargreaves leaves the
Bridgewater Hospital after undergoing a three-hour medical ahead of
his shock move to Manchester City
Owen Hargreaves is on the brink of a sensational
move to Manchester City.
After being discarded by arch rivals Manchester
United this summer, the injury-ravaged midfielder is set to sign a
one-year deal at the Etihad Stadium. He is expected to be unveiled
later on Tuesday.
Hargreaves was pictured leaving the Bridgewater
Hospital in Manchester at Tuesday lunchtime after three hours of
tests.
He is now expected to join big-spending City in
the most astonishing of the transfer window.
Hargreaves exclusively told Sportsmail
on Saturday how he was confident of playing 40 games this season
and making a late bid for England's squad for Euro 2012.
Tottenham and Aston Villa had joined West
Bromwich Albion in the chase for the former England
midfielder.
But it now appears that Roberto Mancini is set to
complete his most fascinating transfer of the summer at the
Barclays Premier League title chasers.
Crossing the divide: Free agent Hargreaves will look to
rebuild his career at the Etihad Stadium after an injury ravaged
spell at Old Trafford
After sealing his £24million
move for Samir Nasri last week, Mancini was told he could only
bring players in on loan or on free transfers.
And after failing to lure Holland veteran Mark
van Bommel away from AC Milan, he has now turned to
Hargreaves.
The Canadian-born man, who joined United for £17m
from Bayern Munich in 2007, is expected to fill a bit-part role
like the one Patrick Vieira filled last season.
However, if his predictions given in an interview
to Sportmail's Matt Lawton prove correct, he could emerge
as the signing of the summer.
Walking away: Manchester United released England
international Hargreaves earlier this summer
Hargreaves exclusively told Sportsmail
last week: 'I'm going to blow people away.
'I'm coming back believing I can return to the
level I was at before. My body feels great and my knees are
perfect.
'I've just got this huge chip on my shoulder
because I've been out for three years and people think I'm dead and
buried.
I'd like to think I can play 40 games this season
and with the right care I believe I can train every day.
'I hope to be back in the England side for the
European Championship next summer. You have to have
ambition.'
At England training on Tuesday, his former
team-mate Wayne Rooney said: 'He's been out for a couple of years
now and worked hard to try and get back. Hopefully he does get back
playing. He's a great player.'
Fitness first: Hargreaves posted videos on
YouTube earlier this summer to show he is back in top
condition