Manchester City have reached an agreement with Valencia over the transfer of David Silva on a four-year deal.

Man City boss Roberto Mancini has been busy trying to strengthen his squad since City’s disappointing end to last season, when the club missed out out on UEFA Champions League qualification.

Mancini set his sights on Silva as a player who could help the club step up their game for next season.

Silva had also been linked with a move to Chelsea, but City have now officially won the chase and finalised the details of his contract.

The 24-year-old Spain international will complete his medical and officially become a City player once his involvement at the World Cup is over.

Jerome Boateng has moved from Hamburg to Manchester City for an undisclosed fee and has penned a five-year deal at Eastlands.

The 21-year-old is set to play in the World Cup for Germany over the next few weeks but was in Manchester on Saturday to sign his contract, which begins on July 1.

City boss Roberto Mancini is expected to bring in a few new faces this summer but a lack of Champions League football may scupper his chances of signing the real stars of world football.

However, in Boateng, they have secured the services of a versatile player who, the boss feels, will be a real asset to a club who are looking to mix it with the best in Europe over the coming years.

“He is a young player who is already of a very high quality,” he told the club’s website. “I think he can continue to improve at City. He can play a number of positions in defence, which is important.

“He has proved his ability in Germany and I think he can be a very important player for Manchester City in the Premier League.”

Boateng began his career with Hertha Berlin before moving to Hamburg in 2007 and is the younger brother of Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.

There is a possibility that the two brothers may face each other in South Africa this summer as the Pompey star, who, like his brother, has dual German-Ghanaian nationality, has chosen to represent Germany’s Group D rivals Ghana.

Everton defender John Heitinga has hinted that he may be interested in a move away from Everton, with Manchester City said to be interested.

The Dutchman made the switch from Atletico Madrid last summer and has been an integral part of David Moyes’ side as they defied a dreadful start to last season’s campaign to finish just outside the European positions in eighth spot.

The Holland international is a versatile player who can operate in central defence or as a holding midfield player and he has attracted the attention of City boss Roberto Mancini, who has made it clear that he will be bringing in a number of stars in the summer.

The 26-year-old has made all the right noises about being happy with the Toffees but hinted that he does have ambitions to play elsewhere at some stage in the future.

“I have heard the reports, but nothing is serious as yet,” he told De Telegraaf.

“City have ambitions and I am always looking to move to a bigger club. But I have a contract for four years, without any get-out clause in it, so I will fully focus myself on Everton.

“I am very happy at this club.”

A number of players have been linked with a move to Eastlands this summer but a lack of Champions League football next season may thwart their chances of attracting the really big-name stars.

Heitinga might fall into the category of player who is fine playing in the second tier of European football as City qualified for the Europa League courtesy of their fifth place finish in the Premiership.

England coach Fabio Capello has given midfielder Gareth Barry another week to prove his fitness for the World Cup.

The 29-year-old player underwent tests on an ankle ligament problem on Tuesday after suffering the injury playing for Manchester City against Tottenham on May 5.

Capello is to name his 23-man squad on June 1, ahead of their World Cup opener against the United States on June 12.

The Italian has insisted he would not include anyone in his final squad if they were unfit to play in the US game.

And the 63-year-old knows the importance of the Manchester City man to his World Cup plans.

“Barry always played with me,” Capello said.

“After Owen Hargreaves it was Gareth Barry. He is one of the important players, really important.

“If Barry is fit, he will come with us. If not, he will stay at home. He is one of the players we want to be fit.”

Roberto Mancini has said he hopes Craig Bellamy will still be a Manchester City player next season.

Wales international Bellamy was left out of the last-day draw against West Ham at Upton Park on Sunday, sparking reports of a fall-out with the Eastlands boss.

However, former Internazionale boss Mancini stressed he was omitted because of an ankle injury sustained in the 1-0 defeat by Tottenham in midweek.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp claimed prior to last week’s top-four showdown he was forced out a move for Bellamy by City and reports of a £6m switch to White Hart Lane have resurfaced.

“He had a problem with his ankle after the Tottenham game,” Mancini said.

“I think he will be [still at the club next season].”

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has paid tribute to his predecessor Mark Hughes before their vital clash against Tottenham.

The Italian believes Hughes deserves half the credit for getting the club within touching distance of the coveted fourth spot in the Premiership which would mean Champions League football at the club next season.

He said: “Mark Hughes worked here for the first five months of the season and worked very well.

“If we get fourth position he deserves 50 per cent of the credit because I think he worked well,” he added.

Hughes was in charge at the start of the season and was give his marching orders to make way for Mancini.

Suggestions have been made that Mancini could face a similar fate if Man City don’t get the final spot for Champions League football which could bring even bigger stars to Eastlands.

This could happen before the City manager has had a chance to have talks with the club’s owner Sheikh Mansour.

Mancini insisted: “I have worked here for five months. I can build a good future here. We are trying to change the history of the club.”

Manchester City have confirmed that Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop will join them on an emergency loan deal for the final three games of the Premier League campaign.

City swooped for the 26-year-old third-choice Black Cats custodian after number one Shay Given was ruled out with a dislocated shoulder and his back-up Stuart Taylor is also injured, leaving just Faroe Islands’ Gunnar Nielsen fit at Eastlands.

City boss Roberto Mancini had hoped the club could persuade Birmingham to allow Joe Hart to cut short his season-long loan spell at St Andrews and return to the club, but they were blocked so a deal for Fulop was agreed.

“The club, with the backing of the Premier League, have been in contact throughout the day with both Birmingham City and Sunderland with regards to bringing either Joe Hart or Marton Fulop to the team on an emergency basis,” read a Man City statement on their website.

“Agreement has not been reached with Birmingham, but we anticipate that Marton Fulop will join us in training (on Wednesday) and we sincerely thank him and Sunderland AFC for their help in this situation.”

Manchester City will plead with Birmingham to allow Joe Hart to return from his season-long loan spell for their final three games.

Following a serious injury to Shay Given, City boss Roberto Mancini has been left with just third-choice goalkeeper Gunnar Neilsen to select from in the battle for fourth place.

Back-up keeper Stuart Taylor is also not fit following a knee injury and the club are expected to be granted Premier League permission to make an emergency signing.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has says he intends to keep Hart for Blues final two matches, as City have no right to recall him under the terms of the agreement.

However, as McLeish has stated that he would like to take Hart on a similar loan deal next season, a favour could well be mutually beneficial.

If Birmingham stand firm over Hart, then its understood that City could look to Sunderland’s Marton Fulop as a potential replacement for Given.

Fulop says no official approach has been made by City but that he would be “hungry to play for Manchester City.”

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is going to have to rely on an inexperienced goalkeeper for the rest of the season after a terrible injury to Shay Given.

The City number one has seen his campaign ended by a dislocated shoulder that he sustained diving down to save a shot on goal, and ended with him leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

With usual number two Stuart Taylor still not recovered from surgery himself, Mancini was forced to call on rookie Faroe Islands goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen to take to the pitch.

It was a City debut for the 23-year-old goalkeeper and it looks as though Nielsen will have to take the goalkeeping responsibilities for the rest of the season as City are unable to recall Joe Hart from his loan deal with Birmingham City.

Mancini told the official club website that Taylor is still “some way off” being fit to play so he must put his faith in Nielsen for the coming games.

“Shay’s injury will be a problem. It’s not good for us because Shay is a fantastic goalkeeper,” said the Italian manager.

“Shay is in hospital, but we have ten days and must play three big games. Gunnar came on and did very well.”

Nielsen himself has admitted it was an intense feeling to come on in such an atmosphere as there was at the Emirates, but he is looking forward to some first-team football with City in the coming weeks.

Manchester City defender Micah Richards is optimistic that he can return from a knee injury for Saturday’s clash with Arsenal.

Richards has sat out City’s last four games with the problem, but is expecting to be back in full training later this week.

“I am going to train later this week as long as it is comfortable and hopefully be available for the Arsenal game,” Richards said.

“It is going to be hard for me to walk straight back in after three weeks out, but that is up to the manager. All I can do is work hard.”

The 21-year-old admits time is running out if he is to make a late claim for a place in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.

After playing regularly for the Under 21s, he has yet to convince manager Fabio Capello of his qualities for the senior side.

Richards said: “Being injured has put a bit of a damper on things, but I am remaining positive by training hard. I will give 100 per cent and take it as it comes.”