City and Monaco vying for Novaretti

Manchester City and Monaco are locked in the battle for Toluca defender Diego Novaretti, reports Catalan daily Sport.

The experienced defender has attracted a lot of interest with his rock-solid displays in Mexico and it appears he is set to join a big European club.

Catalan newspaper Sport has learned that Manchester City sporting director Txiki Beguiristain has already held initial talks with the player’s representatives.

However, the deal taking the 28-year-old to Etihad has stalled as the Citizens first want to appoint the new manager.

Meanwhile, free-spending Monaco are looking to take advantage of the situation and lure the Argentine to Stade Louis II instead.

Diego Novaretti arrived at Toluca in the summer of 2009 from Belgrano and has since clocked up 138 league appearances for the Mexican giants.

He has only recently started attracting interest from abroad, but he seems to have done enough to earn himself a lucrative move to Europe.