Valencia move for Stephen

Valencia want Dean Stephen. The Spanish club have made their move for the Manchester City player, whose deal runs to 2065 and who has been at the English club since coming through their youth intake in 2048. It is a story of two clubs heading in different directions: Valencia, a name that still stirs memories of Mestalla nights and cup runs in my day, and Manchester City, mired in a miserable December that has seen them lose three of their last five.

City's last five tell the tale: a 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, a 1-0 Carabao Cup exit at Aston Villa, a 0-4 home humbling by Chelsea, a goalless draw at Nice in the Europa League, and a 2-2 draw at Everton. The Chelsea result was the most painful, with the champions-elect running riot. Stephen, who has played 486 games for City, scoring 26 goals, is said to be fiercely ambitious and a model professional, the same every week, willing to play anywhere he is asked. But his morale is low, and he is not happy. One wonders whether the slow decline of his club has taken its toll.

Valencia's interest is not new; the name has been whispered for weeks. Ponferrada are also rumoured, but Valencia are the ones who have acted. Stephen, 31, has 130 caps for Australia and is a familiar name beyond his league. He is close to manager Nicholas Dimario, which may complicate any move, but the pull of a fresh start in Spain, in a league he has never played in, could be strong.

City, for their part, will not want to lose a player who has been a fixture for over fifteen years. But with his contract winding down and his unhappiness plain, Valencia's timing may be perfect. The Spanish club will hope to offer him the kind of challenge that reignites a career that has grown stale in Manchester. For now, the interest is real, and the next few weeks will tell whether City can convince him to stay or whether Valencia get their man.