Garcia: Linked with City switch

Garcia has impressed for the Portuguese giants since leaving Real Madrid in 2009 and earned his first cap for Spain in a friendly earlier this summer.

The 25-year-old holding midfielder is seen by Roberto Mancini as a key signing, and City first-team coach Fausto Salsano is believed to have scouted him at the weekend.

But if the Premier League champions hope to negotiate with Benfica to secure Garcia's signature they could be disappointed.

Club president Pinto da Costa insists the £24million buy-out clause in the midfielder's contract is the only sum that would see the player leave the Estadio da Luz.

"Javi only leaves for this figure. It is non-negotiable," said Da Costa.