Manchester City are close to signing Chelsea misfit Tal Ben
Haim, despite competition from Tottenham and Portsmouth.
It is understood City have been in talks with Chelsea and the
26-year-old central defender over a £5m switch to Eastlands over
the past few days.
City boss Mark Hughes wants competition for places at the back
as he looks to build a solid foundation in his squad and feels Ben
Haim will provide a top class alternative to Richard Dunne and
Micah Richards.
Although Tottenham and Portsmouth have also been in touch, a
source close to the deal told Sportsmail last night that City are
clear favourites to sign the Israeli international.
Ben Haim only left Bolton for Stamford Bridge last summer but
had an awful time at Chelsea, playing only 13 times and being fined
two weeks' wages after a newspaper attack on coach Avram Grant in
May.