Manchester City transfers: Benitez to battle Pellegrini for starlet

Man City are said to need additional defensive options in light of Vincent Kompany's prolonged absence and are believed to have identified 19-year-old Kurt Zouma.
Name: Kurt Zouma
Date of birth: 27 October 1994
Birthplace: Lyon, France
Position: Central defender
Club: Saint-Etienne
International appearances: 34 caps for France's U16, 17, 19, 20 and 21 sides (correct as of 14 November 2013)
What's the latest?
Napoli are ready to fight Man City for Saint-Etienne's young stopper Kurt Zouma. The talented teen has also been linked with his club's fierce rivals Lyon, but claimed he would never don the shirt, not even for £15m a year, while Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool are said to have previously been interested. Zouma also once claimed to have rejected a €200,000 a week offer from City in the 2012 January transfer window so he could continue his development in France.
Did you know?
1) Zouma's first steps towards a professional career came when he joined the French Football Federation's Dijon-based 'Pole Espoir' centre in 2007. Overseen by former Nancy player Gilles Salou, it is designed to prepare youngsters for joining the youth ranks of professional clubs, and Zouma went on to join the Saint-Etienne academy in 2009 following two years learning under Salou.
2) Zouma made his senior debut in a 3-1 Coupe de la Ligue win against Bordeaux in August 2011. Injuries to key players at the start of the 2011/12 Ligue 1 campaign ensured the defender made seven starting appearances in Saint Etienne's first eight games that year, while he scored twice and played 21 games in total during the season.
3) The defender is known for his speed and strength, as well as his aerial ability. He is composed when facing attackers in one-on-one situations and has also shown an eye for a raking long pass. He has, however, been criticised at times for his poor positioning and can also fill in at right-back. He has featured 11 times in the top flight this season, but in early November Zouma was banned for a massive 10 games, ruling him out until the New Year after his tackle on Thomas Guerbert resulted in the Sochaux midfielder suffering a double leg break.
4) He was part of France's victorious 2013 U20 World Cup squad and scored in his nation's 4-0 quarter-final win against Uzbekistan.
5) Zouma was named after Jean-Claude Van Damme's character in Kickboxer. "My parents decided that if they called me that, I'd be strong and I'd always be smiling. And that's how it seems to have worked out," he said.
What is being said?
"Kurt is young but we all know his potential. He has enormous quality and a huge future ahead of him."
- Saint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin