Manchester City have made an official bid for MS Ashdod midfielder Nir Biton.

Club owner Jacky Ben Zaken said: "They want to take him on loan immediately and want an option to buy him in the future."

Biton's agent Dudu Dahan is currently in England negotiating with City director Brian Marwood. However, it seems unlikely that the 20-year-old Israeli, who impressed during a week-long trial in Manchester earlier this month, will ever don a City jersey.

Not only does Biton still have nine-months IDF duty to perform, but he has made only two appearances for Israel and falls short of the criteria required for a UK work permit.