Manchester City reportedly close to signing Javi Martinez

According to 'Sport', Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez could be set to join Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola's City side are going through a period of "freshening up" their squad and Martinez's arrival would be another step in the right direction.

Martinez has spent 5 years in Germany with Bayern and is contracted until 2021. But he is understood to have asked the powers that be at Bayern to allow him to move to City this summer, in order for him to reunite with Guardiola who improved his game massively.

Guardiola is a father-like figure for the Basque, who said as much back in 2016. Guardiola particularly helped Martinez's defending, saying "Pep said he saw me as a possible defender and that I had to be ready. We watched more than 200 videos together. We started to do exercises everyday. He taugh me new movements... I got bored in the end, but it was what I needed. Pep is incredible." 

The deal could break the €50million barrier.