Fantasy Premier League

Tue Feb 05 03:58PM by Jeremy

Manchester City have completed the signing of Portsmouth striker Benjani for an initial fee of £3.87 million.

The player arrived late in Manchester on transfer deadline day after missing his flight, putting the deal in jeopardy.

City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson was relieved that it has now finally gone through.

"I am delighted that we have signed such a quality player," he said. "I am looking forward to working with him straight away."

The fee for Benjani, 29, will rise to almost double the initial figure if the player records 75 appearances in a sky blue shirt.

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It didn't drag on like the "No L in" Afonso Alves saga (who finally has his work permit and should be Teeside tomorrow), but it was certainly dramatic in itself.  Now Benjani, one of the league's leading goal getters (even with Torres on 12 and only behind CRon and K2), moves to Man Citeh.  And boy did they need him!  They've struggled in 2008 and have desperately needed a striker suited to their 4-5-1.  Benjani should fit the bill nicely.  If he can hold up the ball and bring the likes of Petrov, Ireland, and Elano into the attack he, and Citeh, will reap the rewards.  As it is, he's probably too expensive for a player whose goals you can count on his scoring chart - see those spikes... those are the goals.  The rest of the time he's largely anonymous.  Maybe the Manchester derby followed by Everton's visit to Eastlands will bring his valuation down for Citeh's relatively easy March - Wig, @Red, Tot, @Bol, @Brm.

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