Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has agreed the sale of his £6m-rated Zimbabwe striker providing he can sign a replacement and City were today petitioning the Home Office to secure a work permit for Caicedo so that they can complete a £5m deal.
The Blues, short of firepower having sent Rolando Bianchi and Georgios Samaras out on loan, have made Caicedo their No 1 target before the transfer window closes at midnight.
City are believed to have edged ahead of Everton and Atletico Madrid in the race to land Caicedo, who has scored two goals in 15 international appearances and boasts 12 goals from 46 appearances with the Swiss club.
Benjani, formerly of Auxerre, has scored 19 times in 69 outings for Pompey. His dozen this season makes him their top scorer.
As strikers come in, so keeper Andreas Isaksson seems sure to go out to Galatasaray in Turkey.
The clubs are haggling over the £1.2m fee and if agreement cannot be reached the Turkish side are expected to try for a loan.
Blues' boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is expected to sign Sweden Under 21 starlet Abbas Hassan from Elfsborg as his replacement.
Meanwhile, City's midfielder Ousmane Dabo has re-joined his former club Lazio on a free transfer.
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calum down (31/01/2008 at 10:57)
RJKS, St Retford (31/01/2008 at 10:57)
Ste (31/01/2008 at 10:57)
The Goat's Big Toe (31/01/2008 at 10:58)
marc (31/01/2008 at 11:00)
benjani would be an interesting one...can play right side aswell.
Eric, Dutch, 32 years and still here (31/01/2008 at 11:02)
Caicedo is only 19 and one for the (near) future. Strong lad, already an international. He broke through last season with Basle, and now establishing himself as one of their stars. Not a profilic goalscorer (yet?).
Even if we get them in, I still think these are not the players Sven wanted in the 1st place. Although he tried, I think in the summer we see movement of more importance.
Weasel (not McKay), Stockport (31/01/2008 at 11:04)
How many people on here were questioning the summer signings (just because they had never seen them?).
Lets judge the lad as and when he pulls on that blue shirt.
Half the time i wonder to myself is it the doom and gloom of the fans that is holding the club back? I have witnessed change of owners, change of managers (some world class), change of players, change of stadium yet we still strive for the elusive trophy - the only remaining constant is the negativity of the blue fan in and around the club!
Just think whats the worst that can happen - we'll finish in the top 10 something which we could've only dreamed about 12 months ago with our championship quality setup!
proudtobeblue (31/01/2008 at 11:06)
Blue Thai (31/01/2008 at 11:06)
mozza_100, Ashton-under-Lyne (31/01/2008 at 11:08)
BlueBlood (31/01/2008 at 11:12)
As for Felipe Caicedo, he looks a good signing. From what i have read, he made his international Debut at the AGE OF SIXTEEN. Even if it was for Ecuador, thats still impressive. Hes, big strong, and can dribble with the ball, with decent pace.
PleaseNotBenjaniSven!PleaseNotBenjaniSven!PleaseNotBenjaniSven!PleaseNotBenjaniSven!
Icicle Boy (31/01/2008 at 11:14)
STONEY Mancunia (31/01/2008 at 11:14)
My source has just seen kaka in the pound shop in wythenshawe..
Albert (31/01/2008 at 11:14)
mozza_100, Ashton-under-Lyne (31/01/2008 at 11:15)
marc (31/01/2008 at 11:17)
ulf blomberg (31/01/2008 at 11:18)
mad pierre, midlands (31/01/2008 at 11:18)
those of you who are thinking about staying in bed, going shoppin or going down pub...get off yer fat lazy butt and get to coms on saturday and make some bloody noise.
Billcarlisle, Carlisle (31/01/2008 at 11:21)
Pace, composure and precision. That's exactly what we want up front. Let's face it, we haven't got a striker on the books with any of these attributes.
If this is true let's hope Harry can wheel & deal a replacement so Sven can land the guy.
BlueBlood (31/01/2008 at 11:21)
Do you even watch the premiership. Benjani is not even close to the class of Adebayor nor is he as physical as Kenwyne Jones. If we get him it would be a mistake! Wait for the summer!
Billcarlisle, Carlisle (31/01/2008 at 11:23)
Just read your post after sending one of my own re: Benjani. Repeating my comments re: his hat-trick last Saturday, if that's not 'natural finishing' then I don't know what is !
Farmer Giles, Talking Manure (31/01/2008 at 11:24)
These 15-20 guaranteed goals a season are very hard to find. By being prolific in other countries doesn't necessarily mean they'll cut the mustard here. Sure some do exist out there somewhere, but if a player came with the guarantee of getting that amount of goals, every team would be after him!
And you also say you might want Benjani to leave at the end of the season!!! Let him sign on the dotted line first. He already has 12 goals. So if he netted, say, 8 for us, therefore ending the season on 20 you'd want him out?!!!!
swissblue, Nottingham (31/01/2008 at 11:24)
As Swiss citizen, I do obvisouly follow the Swiss League a bit.
So, Felipe Caicedo... What is this lad all about?
He's widely seen as one of the biggest striker assets right now in the world. He has attracted interest from a dozen (top) clubs from all over Europa.
He's goalscoring record (12 out of 45 games) looks not very impression. But remember, he is just 19yrs old, played in most of these 45 games as a sub, and, moreover, the Basle coach used him most of the time as a midfielder (HE is a striker!). Compare his situation to the one of Mr. Miller...
5mio transfer fee: pretty high, but you do not get bargains - especially if they are strikers - anymore in these days, I guess.
Overall: good prospect, very quick striker, with good technical skills, has to work on his workrate though. Furthermore, he will take his time (I'd say 2yrs) to settle in the EPL. Remember: He is just 19yrs (even though already an International)
Chris Rout (31/01/2008 at 11:25)
Are you forgetting we finished 8th twice since our return to the premier league.
Benjani will do for now as we need someone..
Tosh, Reddish (31/01/2008 at 11:26)