Reyna to Man City for $4 million

[Jarrek]

SUNDERLAND, England -- Manchester City agreed Thursday to a tentative deal to acquire U.S. soccer captain Claudio Reyna from Sunderland for $4 million.

The 30-year-old midfielder, selected to last year's World Cup All-Star team, is scheduled to undergo a physical Saturday at Manchester City, Sunderland said on its Web site.

Fulham had negotiated to acquire Reyna, but that proposed transfer fell through.

"The club can confirm that after agreeing a 2.5 million-pound fee with Fulham, elements of the transfer deal were altered at the final stage, which Sunderland could not accept," Sunderland said. "Following this, City expressed an interest in the player -- matching Fulham's original 2.5 million-pound bid."

Reyna tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last Oct. 28 and did not play again until July 6, when he appeared for the United States in an exhibition game against Paraguay. He then played for the Americans in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Sunderland was relegated to the first division this season and Reyna did not play in the team's first four games. Sunderland acquired Reyna in December 2001 from Scotland's Glasgow Rangers for $5.68 million.

Manchester City is fourth in the Premier League at 2-0-1.