Van Buyten agrees Man City switch
PARIS, France -- Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten, who was reportedly a transfer target for Manchester United last season, has signed for Manchester City instead.
The 26-year-old has moved on loan from French club Olympique Marseille until the end of the season with a view to a permanent transfer.
French defender David Sommeil moves to Marseille as part of the deal that came too late for Van Buyten to play in Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Highbury.
City manager Kevin Keegan said: "We have looked at him for quite a while, for two years in fact, as have other premier league clubs...
"He is a good, strong defender who is good on the ball and has all the experience of international football."
Van Buyten, who has 16 caps, flew into Manchester on Friday to talk over a move with Keegan while Sommeil went in the opposite direction to discuss personal terms with Marseille.
Marseille, who are sixth in France's top flight, 13 points behind leaders Monaco, hope to earn around three million euros ($3.7m) from the switch and could use the money to sign a striker.
City confirmed they had agreed to pay an undisclosed fee to Marseille whose new coach Jose Anigo is not so keen on losing the player.
"If they decide to sell Daniel for financial reasons I shall have to go along with it, but I would prefer to keep him because he is a guy I like and a good player," he said.
