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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