Melbourne City today will complete the loan signing of Central Coast Mariners attacker Anthony Caceres in an A-League first that could draw the ire of other clubs.
Manchester City has agreed to buy Caceres, the Mariners' best player this season, for more than $300,000 and will loan him straight away to its Melbourne sister club for the rest of the A-League season.
Sydney FC headed a queue of three other clubs that wanted to sign Sydneysider Caceres, 23, but it is believed Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth was reluctant to release or swap him once he realised Manchester City was prepared to pay a transfer fee.
Caceres is understood to have signed a long-term deal with Manchester City, though his future beyond this season is unclear.
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