Manchester City's insistence on taking David Bentley away on-loan from Tottenham scuppered the deal, it has been revealed.

The Manchester Evening News says City boss Mark Hughes is a long-time admirer of Bentley, having helped him to gain his first England caps when the two worked together at Ewood Park in Hughes' time as manager.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp knew that and was quick to offer a deal which would have landed Petrov as a quick replacement for broken leg victim Luka Modric, plus a fee believed to have been in the region of £5m.

City admit that at first they considered the deal as a possibility but after talking to Hughes, City executive chairman Garry Cook came up with the idea of taking Bentley on loan.

But Redknapp, who criticising the player for a drink-drive conviction last week, refused to sanction a loan deal.