Manchester City are weighing up a deal for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez.

The highly-rated 21-year-old has been linked with Liverpool over recent years but City scouts have monitored him closely in recent months and have been putting together an extensive file documenting his background, habits and personality.

They also had scouts in the crowd in Austria on Saturday as he made his full Spain debut coming on as a substitute for Barcelona’s Xavi against Saudi Arabia.



Marked man: Javi Martinez (front) trains in Madrid as Spanish counterpart Xabi Alonso looks on Martinez, who is rated at around £18million, is 6ft 3ins tall and plays in an attacking midfield position.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is a big fan but cannot compete financially with City who are working through a list of targets headed by Valencia’s David Silva. (Daily Mail)