ZIM.STRIKER FAILS

In a statement released late last night, City said the Zimbabwean striker
had failed to arrive in Manchester on time forcing the club to cancel the
deal.
The 29-year-old striker had earlier in the week pledged his future to
Portsmouth, who bought him from French side AJ Auxerre for a then club
record £4.1 million in January 2006.                             Mwaruwari, who has been in top form for Portsmouth with 12 league goals this
season, reportedly underwent a medical at Manchester City yesterday
afternoon after the clubs agreed a fee believed to be around £6 million.                 Media reports had initially said Mwaruwari was “90 percent” certain that he
would move to Manchester City.                                 Earlier this week, Mwaruwari had pledged his future to Pompey after reports
linking him with a £7 million move to Italian Serie A giants Juventus
intensified. Mwaruwari’s transfer was expected to pave the way for Tottenham Spurs
striker Jermain Defoe’s arrival at Fratton Park on the last day of the
mid-season transfers.                    Portsmouth have already during the January transfer period brought in Czech
striker Milan Baros from Lyon on a loan deal.                    Efforts to contact Mwaruwari last night were not successful.                          Mwaruwari’s first moved to Europe in 2001 with FC Grasshoppers before he
joined AJ Auxerre.