Berkovic ready to be Maine man

Berkovic spent most of last season on loan at Blackburn

Eyal Berkovic is set to tie up his £1.5m move to Manchester City from Celtic.

Berkovic, who will reportedly sign a contract worth £25,000 a week with the relegated Blues, is due to have a medical at Maine Road.

City have applied for a work permit, which should be a formality, and the Israeli international will be unveiled at a Maine Road news conference later this week.

Even if O'Neill was to come back to me now and say that I would be in his team every week I would tell him to forget it

Eyal Berkovic

City's chief operating officer Chris Bird said: "He arrives today (Monday) and he will have a medical and we'll then sort out his work permit."

Berkovic, who will become Kevin Keegan's third signing since taking over as manager at City, could not resist firing a parting shot at Celtic manager Martin O'Neill.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who cost the club £5.75m, fell out of favour at Parkhead following the Irishman's arrival last summer and was loaned out to Blackburn towards the end of last season.

Berkovic said: "Martin O'Neill didn't even speak to me before I went down to Manchester so I guess that tells its own story.

"Even if O'Neill was to come back to me now and say that I would be in his team every week I would tell him to forget it.

"I am pleased that I am finally going to a club that is warm and really wants me. Those were things that I didn't feel in my last season at Celtic."