Stoke City are set to bring Benjani’s Manchester City nightmare to an end by tabling a £5million bid for the Zimbabwean Captain.

Benjani arrived at Eastlands only 18 months ago in a £6million deal from Portsmouth but looks almost certain to lead City’s casualty list as manager Mark Hughes looks to trim his long-list of strikers to accomodate new arrivals at the mega-rich club.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has emerged as the favourite to recruit the 30-year-old, who has scored just four goals in 21 outings for City.

According to the Daily Star, Pulis will offer Benjani the opportunity of regular first team football at the Britannia Stadium next term as the striker bids to recover from an injury-ravaged spell on the sidelines last season and get back among the goals.

The Potters are determined to bolster their attacking options for the forthcoming campaign and have been linked with moves for West Ham forward Dean Ashton and Newcastle star Obafemi Martins – but a bid for Benjani appears to be their best bet.

It would be a great disappointment to scores of Zimbabwean fans if he does leave the club before the 2009 Vodacom Challenge, with many set to descend on the Limpopo town of Polokwane to see Benjani in action against Orlando Pirates when the Vodacom Challenge kicks-off on July 18.