Tal ben Haim!

Thursday's Guardian says we're about to sign Tal Ben Haim. We've been linked with him before, but only at a distance. This, however, seems much more solid. It's a whole article (by Daniel Taylor) stating that we have opened formal negotiations, that 'a source close to the player' says we're favourites to sign him and that the fee is likely to be £5million. Read it HERE.

The reception, on Bluemoon at least, has been rather mixed. Whilst I'm not wildly enthused - I wouldn't get his name on the back of a replica shirt or anything - I do think it's a pretty smart move. Despite starting well last year, our defence was in tatters by the end of the season. Injuries to Micah Richards, Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha left us with a back four against Fulham of Sun, Corluka, Ball and Elano: midfielders at full back and full backs at centre back.

It was clear that we need more defensive cover for this season. Whilst the injury situation last spring is unlikely to recur in that exact form this year, we will, I hope, play another dozen or so matches in the UEFA Cup on top of our 38 league matches. Potential runs in the FA and League Cups makes at least one more defender a necessity.

The need for strengthening is particularly pressing at left back. Javier Garrido may turn into a Premier League quality defender, but he is demonstrably not at that level yet. Michael Ball's level, however, is all too clear. Solid but one-paced, dependable but, ultimately, no better than average, he is no real advance from Ben Thatcher.

The final issue is one of demeanour. Ben Haim is no Baresi - but he is a battler. The best criticism of Eriksson's City team is there was no grit when we needed it most - the draws at Derby and Bolton, the losses at Reading and Birmingham: these are all games a slightly cannier team could have won. Hughes surely knows that, but doesn't quite have the necessary tools at his disposal yet. The addition of Ben Haim could give us that edge we need from time to time.

Yes, I'd love to go back twelve months and force through that deal for Chiellini. But Ben Haim ticks all the boxes: versatile, Premier League experienced, and not afraid to 'use his experience' to his advantage when he needs to. And only £5million represents good enough value for a necessary, if ultimately unglamarous addition to next year's squad.