Rumour: Bayern Munich star Javi Martinez set to join Manchester City

We don’t often post Twitter or message board rumours at City Watch, but there are some very well-informed individuals who deserve a second look.

One of them is Graeme Kelly, a Liverpool fan with a good track record of calling deals, and he is claiming today that Bayern Munich defender and midfielder Javi Martinez is on his way to Manchester City.

Javi Martinez is City bound. #MCFC

— Graeme Kelly (@GraemeKelly1) June 24, 2017

On paper, this is a realistic deal if Bayern are open to selling the Spaniard. Sam Lee of Goal reported yesterday that City are working on a deal for a centre-back, but one who is unlikely to be Leonardo Bonucci or Virgil van Dijk, the two most frequently linked.

Martinez is able to play at centre-back, as he did for Pep Guardiola’s Bayern side, and as a holding midfielder, his original role and one that City are going to need to fill eventually with Yaya Touré and Fernandinho both well into their 30s.

On the flip side, Martinez has a history of injuries and is currently recovering from a broken collarbone, suffered not while playing football, but hiking in the mountains.

Martinez managed 37 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga giants last season, more than in his two previous seasons combined, a sign that he may be over the worst of his injury problems. And at the age of 28, he has experience with plenty of good football left in him.

This is one to treat as pure speculation for now, but it could be a logical signing for Manchester City. Would you like to see Javi Martinez arrive at the Etihad?