Irons nab 'Swiss Beckham' Behrami prompting Neill's move to Man City

13 April 2012

By

Lucas Neill moved a step closer to joining Manchester City last night after West Ham agreed a deal with Lazio right-back Valon Behrami.

The 23-year old Switzerland defender flew into London for a medical after activating a FIFA rule that will allow him to become a West Ham player for a fraction of Lazio’s original asking price.

West Ham will sign Behrami for less than a third of his initial £11m valuation after he informed Lazio he was invoking article 17, which gives players nearing the end of their contracts the right to move on without costing a fee.

Neill: Leaving the Boleyn Ground

Neill: Leaving the Boleyn Ground

The Swiss David Beckham: Behrami

The Swiss David Beckham: Behrami

Lazio will be entitled to compensation and are seeking over £3m, but West Ham are hoping to settle on around £1.5m for a versatile defender who started all three of Switzerland’s Euro 2008 matches.

Kosovo-born Behrami, whose Italian model girlfriend Elena Bonzanni should add some glamour to Upton Park, chose West Ham ahead of Palermo and Werder Bremen.

His arrival casts further uncertainty over Neill’s West Ham future.

Sportsmail revealed that City manager Mark Hughes was keen to revive their Blackburn partnership, and a move looks even likelier after the Australia defender was left in little doubt he would be competing for the right-back spot if he remained at Upton Park.

With just 12 months left on his contract, he seems sure to opt for a fresh start at Eastlands.

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