Neven Subotic: Man City in Late £15M Move for the ‘New Vidic’
Manchester City are reportedly in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund today in view to signing their 6 ft 4 Serbian centre-half Neven Subotic before the transfer window closes. In fact, delegations from Eastlands are attempting to bring in a number of new recruits with Middlesbrough’s Adam Johnson and Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago all targeted.
Subotic signed a new long-term contract with Borussia Dortmund earlier this season but City are refusing to take no for an answer as Roberto Mancini looks to stamp his own mark on his team. The young defender has been dubbed the ‘New Nemanja Vidic’ and has grown in stature and reputation in the Bundesliga after a number of excellent consistent displays. An injury to Vincent Company has left City struggling for fit centre-halves but unlike the current crop, Subotic is extremely dominant aerially.
Borussia have moved swiftly to quash the reports of a move to Eastlands and the player’s agent Steve Kelly is doubtful of a move but with City poised to bid big, a move may be more realistic than many would expect.Kelly told skysports.com, “I would be really surprised if Neven was to leave Dortmund in January.
“It would take something special for Dortmund to sell him as he is on a long-term contract there.”
The 21-year-old enjoyed a fantastic debut season in 2008/09 with Borussia after moving from Mainz. His form resulted in the offer of a new improved contract which he signed which would see him remain at the club until 2014. He has played in all 20 league games this season starting and finishing each match. Dortmund are enjoying a good season which has seen them rise to 4th in the Bundesliga, 8 points behind leaders Bayer Levekusen. A 4-1 weekend defeat at Stuttgart ended Borussia’s 9-match unbeaten league run and left them off the pace for the title refueling speculation that the club may now sell to Manchester City.
Subotic was born in Banja Luka in the former Yugoslavia but moved to Germany with his family in 1994 when he was 5-years old. However, in 1999 his family moved to the USA after their residence authorization expired. There the Serbian international played soccer for Sparta Gold and Impact Black youth clubs in Salt Lake City before moving to Florida where Subotic’s sister pursued a tennis career at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. The big defender began to play for the University of South Florida’s team and was later spotted by agent Steve Kelly while representing an U17 team in the Netherlands. Kelly offered the player a trial with Mainz who eventually signed him.
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The Serbian worked his way up from the youth teams as well as their 4th division side before making his professional debut for Mainz in the last match of the 2006/07 season against Bayern. The club were relegated from the Bundesliga but the following season saw Subotic emerge as a potential star.
He made 33 league appearances (all starts) and scored 4 goals as Mainz finished 4th with the best defensive record in the division of just 37 goals conceded. They missed out on promotion by just two points and their coach Jurgen Klopp got a coaching job at Borussia and played a key role in the player moving with him to Dortmund.
Last season Subotic enjoyed an impressive first season at the top level of German football making 34 league appearances (all starts) and scoring 6 goals. Like England Captain John Terry, the Serbian has shown he is dangerous in the opposition box at set-pieces with an impressive 11 goals in just 91 career league appearances (all starts). Man City possess some excellent quick defenders but perhaps lack the physical size and presence that this Serbian man mountain offers at both ends of the pitch. Kolo Toure definitely works better next to a more aerially dominant defensive partner which was perfectly illustrated by his form alongside Sol Campbell rather than William Gallas at Arsenal. Mancini is moving to strengthen the side physically for the Premier League with veteran Patrick Vieira signed to bring some strength and leadership earlier last month.
After signing his new contract, Subotic told Bild, “I still have a lot to learn. At this point in time it would take an extraordinary bid to see me leaving.
“This would be great for both, Borussia Dortmund and me. They would have big money and I would know that this new club is really interested in me as a player.”
Subotic was eligible to play for the U.S, Serbia or Bosnia Herzegovina but opted to play for Serbia when he told the nation’s coach in December 2008. This was despite representing the USA U20 side. In March 2009, he made his international debut as a substitute in Serbia’s 3-2 win over Romania. He has now made 9 appearances and scored once in a 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands. The Serbs have won eight of those games and have kept 4 clean-sheets in his 5 starts.
At 6 ft 4 and quick across the ground, Subotic is made for the Premier League. He’d be an excellent signing for Man City as he is a dominant centre-half in the John Terry mould. Roberto Mancini has enjoyed a decent start at Eastlands but recent defeats at Everton and Manchester United has prompted him to attempt to bring in strong defensive recruits. He has targeted a dominant centre-half and another defensive midfielder which is expected to be Gago so City can finally compete with the big four.
Will Borussia maintain their determined stance to keep their star defender if City offer a huge cash offer? Would you like to sign the 21-year-old rated as one of the finest defenders in the Bundesliga? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Borussia Dortmund, Football Pools, Manchester City, Nemanja Vidic, Neven Subotic
