Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Petros Kausiyo
9 July 2009
Harare — WARRIORS captain Benjani Mwaruwari's future at Manchester City continues to be a source of speculation amid indications that the striker has revealed his desire to return to Portsmouth should the Blues offload him.
Mwaruwari has recently been thrown into the spotlight following City's off-season spending spree that has seen the English Premiership line up a number of strikers including Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o.
Manchester City have already splashed 17 million pounds to buy Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers and yesterday they were also linked with a £35,5 million bid for Italian striker Guissepe Rossi.
Cash-rich Manchester City are also trying to lure former Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez, who turned down an offer to remain at the Red Devils.
Manchester City have revealed through their club chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak that they were targeting at bringing at least six new players before the Premiership season bursts into life next month.
England midfielder Gareth Barry has already been lured from Aston Villa.
Al Mubarak also told Abu Dhabi English language paper the National that his club would also reduce the size of their playing personnel.
"We will shrink our squad and add four to six players.
"Key for us is that we trust Mark Hughes and any acquisitions is based on his view," said Al Mubarak.
Although Manchester City manager Hughes has not given any indication on Mwaruwari, it is against the background of the Blues' bid to bring in at least half a dozen new players that speculation has been fuelled on the Zimbabwean international's future at the Eastlands club.
According to reports from England, Mwaruwari admits he would "love" to get the chance to play for Portsmouth again but stressed that it was up to Manchester City if they wanted him to leave.
The 30-year-old striker, who moved to City during the 2008 January transfer window, has fallen down the pecking order at Eastlands after the arrival of Santa Cruz, which could soon be followed by that of Tevez.
Both Stoke City and Fulham are reported to be keen on securing the services of the Warriors captain.
Last week English tabloid the Daily Sun reported that Stoke manager Tony Pulis had put together a £5 million bid to try and lure Mwaruwari.
The paper reported that Mwaruwari's former manager at Portsmouth Harry Redknapp, now at Tottenham Hotspur, had persuaded Tulis to try and sign the striker.
However, Benjani, signed by Pompey from Auxerre during 2006, feels he has a "special relationship" with the Fratton Park faithful - one he would not be adverse to rekindling.
"I have good memories and I have a special relationship with the Portsmouth supporters," Benjani said.
"I left on a good note and I have nothing but good feelings about them, that is for sure.
"I would love to play for them again, but at the moment I am contracted to Manchester City.
"I have a job to do here until I am told anything else.
"There is a lot of talk about my future, but at the moment I am still a Manchester City player."
Benjani, quoted in the Portsmouth News, added: "Obviously there is always speculation in football, though. I am happy to stay unless the club declare they do not want me any more.
"In football, you never know what is around the corner."
Benjani started just eight games for City last season as his career was pegged back by injuries that also forced him to seek treatment in Germany.
The former Air Zimbabwe Jets and Jomo Cosmos striker is, however, now focused on getting ready for the new campaign.
"The problem I have had is the injuries I had last season, but everything is okay now. I am ready to play and I need to play," he said.
"I am training with the squad and we are about to fly out to Germany. I have a contract at the moment and I just want to play football."
Portsmouth, meanwhile, have yet to confirm a permanent management team for next season, after Paul Hart and Brian Kidd took charge over the closing months of the season following Tony Adams' dismissal.
Captain Sol Campbell is out of contract, and it is not clear whether the former England defender, 34, will be offered new terms to stay.
Should a return to the familiar surroundings of Fratton Park materialise for Mwaruwari, he could link up with former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch in the Pompey attack.
There had been indications that the England striker could be leaving Pompey for Blackburn.
But Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has rejected suggestions he was set to move for Crouch.
Off the field, Sulaiman Al Fahim's proposed £6 million takeover could be close to completion as the Barclays Premier League club's financial affairs are given due diligence.
A spokesman for Al Fahim said: "The doctor is still just as confident as ever the takeover will be seen through.
"He is obviously aware of some stories which have been circulating.
"But he can 100 percent reassure supporters he is committed to seeing the takeover through.
"He is desperate to get started and help drive Portsmouth forward.
"He fully understands that people are getting anxious. The doctor shares the supporters' frustrations at the length of time due diligence has taken.
"But he needs to make sure everything is correct before the takeover is completed.
"There is no need to think that anything has happened which will stop the takeover being completed, though.
"There are no shortcuts when it comes to something like this.
"There are no problems, though, and the takeover is pushing through."
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