TheSportsCampus

Every transfer deadline day has its share of shock deals, and this season's most unexpected acquisition came in the form of Owen Hargreaves' move to the Etihad Stadium to join Manchester City. The former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder, whose contract at Old Trafford was not renewed after the completion of his existing deal in the summer, was on the lookout for new suitors, and title hopefuls Manchester City have stepped in to confirm a one-year deal that is said to include low wages but high performance incentives.

Strange it was on many levels. First off, you had Roberto Mancini looking for a defensive midfield option when he already possessed Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and Yaya Toure, all of whom could fit into the role of a destroyer in front of the City back four. Then there was the odd choice of player, as the 30-year old Hargreaves had spent all of six minutes playing competitive football for United over the last three years, and had acquainted himself with the club's medical staff for the rest of the period.

Third, and least importantly, there was the small matter of the player joining Manchester United's cross-town rivals after having spent four years with the Red Devils, during which most of his time was spent adding to the club's medical bills. However, with not many clubs able to afford Hargreaves' exorbitant wages with the added risk of having a player on the treatment table for lengthy periods, City's offer was probably one Hargreaves had to take.

The England international had uploaded a series of videos showing his workout regime over the summer on internet site YouTube in order to prove his fitness and possibly earn a new contract at another club. Sven-Goran Eriksson's Leicester City side and Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion were said to be interested in the Canadian-born former hard-tackling midfielder, but nothing transpired of those stories.

Mancini however did take note, and has decided that Hargreaves still can have a role to play in City's bid to win the Premier League and advance to the latter stages of the Champions League.

Hargreaves' new teammates have come out and backed the move already, with fellow England internationals Joe Hart and Joleon Lescott speaking in glowing terms about the midfielder. "He has struggled a bit since he came to Manchester United but that is not down to ability, just his fitness," Hart said.

"If he can get himself fit it can only be a positive. He was a very important England player. If he can get back to that form, obviously he would be an asset."

Lescott added : "I've worked with Owen at England level and he is a great professional. People ask if it represents a gamble but the club know what they are doing, Owen knows what he is doing. He is still a good player.

"If we can get him fit, I'm sure it won't be very long before he is back to his best. He will be a player with a point to prove after his injuries.''

With Yaya Toure scheduled to leave for the African Cup of Nations later this year, City now have 2-3 months to get their temporary replacement fit and ready for the demands on the Premier League, and can afford to bench Hargreaves again when Toure returns. Additionally, the England international brings some valuable Championship winning experience with him to the dressing room, something that can never be overstated in tight games. Remember Patrick Vieira coming on late in games to sew things up for City at the back last year? Hargreaves could well play a very similar role.

Mancini certainly doesn't have much to lose from this transfer. If Hargreaves manages to stay fit and succeeds at the club, then it would be a huge coup for the Citizens. If he fails, then the midfielder will be seen as a gamble that was worth taking for a club that don't fret over the dosh paid to their players. In Hargreaves, Mancini has made a shrewd decision, and now has among his ranks a possible game-changer who will be desperate to show that he still has it to play at the top-level.

Also Read:·Comprehensive Deadline Day Transfer Rumours