Nicolás Otamendi has flown into Manchester to complete his €45 million transfer to Premier League title hopefuls, Manchester City after the fee between the club and Valencia was finally agreed. The 27-year-old defender has been dropped from the spanish club’s Champions League qualifier amid claims that a deal is imminent.

With earlier interest from city rivals, Manchester United it has proved to be a protracted transfer but it is reported that Otamendi will shortly sign a five-year deal with Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

A deal had been agreed earlier in the week, which would have seen City’s 24-year-old Eliaquim Mangala go on-loan to Valencia but after an impressive couple of performances this season and the player’s reluctance to leave Manchester, a new agreement needed to be reached. Valencia maintained that the €50m buy-out clause needed to be met, but have now found a common ground with City.

The €45 million agreed does not include any loan deals and, contrary to some reports, has no relation to the money that Valencia still owe City for the purchase of Alvaro Negredo.

Valencia appear to be preparing for life after Otamendi and coach Nuno Espirito Santo said: “Once everything is resolved, we will make decisions and the club will announce everything. For a few days now we have prepared for this game without the option of using Otamendi. Tomorrow’s game is crucial for us.”

Otamendi proved himself as one of the top defenders in La Liga last season and has now cemented a place in Argentina’s defence but it is still an astronomical fee. Vincent Kompany and Mangala have performed superbly at the start of this current campaign and with Martín Demechelis already waiting in the wings, Otamendi will arrive as a real signal of intent.