ROUND-UP
Edinson Cavani is once more hogging the City headlines as the transfer rumours continue at full pace.
The latest chapter in this tale suggests City will have to go up against European giants Real Madrid to secure the Uruguayan striker’s signature – that’s according to the Guardian.
The Napoli star is currently away with his national team preparing for the Confederations Cup – and scoring a cracker against Venezuela which you can watch below – but that hasn’t put the brakes on the speculation.
Dominic Fifield writes: “Real Madrid will compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for the Napoli forward Edinson Cavani after the Spanish club held preliminary talks with the Uruguayan's representatives with a view to securing his services before the new season.
“Reports in Spain suggest Real had been due to speak with Cavani's agent late last month only for the discussions to be postponed while José Mourinho negotiated his departure from the Bernabéu and the club president, Florentino Pérez, concentrated on his re-election. With that now resolved, the meeting was rescheduled and held this week in Madrid.”
Elsewhere, Blues midfielder Gareth Barry is attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur first in the queue according to the Daily Express.
The north London outfit are said to be looking for an experienced replacement for Scott Parker and Barry fits the bill, although Stoke and Sunderland could provide competition for his signature.
The paper’s Tony Banks explains: “In the final year of his deal, Barry has yet to be offered a new contract, and former City boss Mark Hughes, now at Stoke, has been linked with a move.
“Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas is also keen on a deal if Barry, who joined City from Aston Villa for £12m in 2009, is made available.”
Finally, there is hope for those keen to see Stephan El Shaarawy in sky blue next season.
The player himself issued a swift denial to this week’s speculation of a move, but AC Milan have admitted that they could be tempted to part with the 20-year-old star if a bid is made.
Talkshitt.co.uk reports: “Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has suggested the Serie A club may cash in on the young striker if the right offer comes along.
“He said: ‘El Shaarawy? We never said he is not for sale.’”
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GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-6-1975
Mike Summerbee brings his glittering City career to a close when he is sold to Burnley after 10 wonderful years with City.
The brilliant winger was an integral part of the Blues’ glory years and along with Colin Bell and Francis Lee, he became part of what was known as ‘The Holy Trinity’ and he played his part in winning the league and virtually every trophy City won during what was a golden era for the club.
His 443 appearances and 67 goals bear testament to his legendary status and today he is the official club ambassador.
Dave Watson signs from Sunderland in a deal worth £275,000. The strapping centre-half is seen as the ideal lynchpin for Tony Book’s side and will go on to forge a formidable partnership with Mike Doyle for the next few years as well as going on to win many England caps.
Pellegrini set for Isco raid
MANCHESTER CITY hope the confirmation of Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment could see Spanish wonderkid Isco follow him from Malaga.
City are still confident they will be able to announce the Chilean’s arrival this week to succeed Roberto Mancini.
His former club in Spain are holding things up — but City are optimistic the deal can be ironed out before the weekend.
And once Pellegrini, 59, is in place they hope it will give them an edge over Real Madrid in the race to sign £17million-rated Isco.
Despite reports last week that City had dropped their interest, they still believe they can land the Spain Under-21 midfielder.
And if they close the deal it would see their summer spending smash the £60m mark with Fernandinho and Jesus Navas already on board.
Their early spending has again sent out a clear message that City will be doing everything possible to win back the Premier League title next term.
The chances of landing Isco, 21, were improved further this week when UEFA upheld Malaga’s ban from European competition next season.
That makes it even more likely that he will push for a move and he was clearly angry about the decision.
He tweeted: “It is embarrassing and shabby. It is completely unfair that they have treated Malaga different than many other teams with many more irregularities and debts.
“They have taken away what we have earned on the field. Neither the players nor fans deserve this. I have no more to say.”
Isco is currently in Israel with his country at the European Under-21 finals, but City are ready to pounce if they get the green light.
He is believed to have a £30m buy-out clause in his contract, but Malaga’s financial problems would force them to accept less.
And they hope the prospect of linking up again with Pellegrini — who he was worked well under for the past couple of years — will tip the balance in their favour.
Isco was asked if he would like to follow his mentor to the Etihad earlier this week and replied: “I wish. It might be possible.”
He went on to call Pellegrini his ‘footballing father’ — but did reveal he wanted to make sure he plays regularly wherever he is next season.
That may be an issue as City have a wealth of midfielders even before the arrival of two more this month for a combined £45m.
They also have the likes of Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, James Milner, David Silva, Samir Nasri and Javi Garcia on their books, among others.
Yet sources at the Etihad have indicated the deal is not dead.
City’s quick-fire moves in the transfer market are in contrast to last season when they waited until the final few weeks of the transfer window to do their business.
The likes of Jack Rodwell, Garcia, Matija Nastasic and Maicon arrived near the end of August — much to the annoyance of ex-boss Mancini.
Ironically, Isco — who scored in Spain’s 3-0 win over Holland yesterday — was another player scouted by the Italian in August last year.
Meanwhile, City are ready to be patient in their long-running pursuit of Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, who has a £54m release clause. The Uruguayan is being targeted by a host of top clubs, but City are keen to avoid a bidding war.
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas to swoop for City's £4m midfielder Gareth Barry
TOTTENHAM are planning a surprise £4 million summer move for Manchester City’s England midfielder Gareth Barry to replace Scott Parker.
Barry’s future at the Etihad is uncertain, with Manuel Pellegrini set to be unveiled in the next 24 hours as the club’s new manager and sweeping changes to their squad likely to follow.
Parker, 33 this year, had an injury-hit season, but Sunderland are interested and Barry, left, would fit the bill as an experienced, less fragile replacement.
City have spent nearly £45m in the past week on attacking midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk and winger Jesus Navas from Sevilla, with more signings expected once Pellegrini starts.
A mini clear-out of some players left from Roberto Mancini’s reign is anticipated and Spurs are watching Barry, 32, closely.
A mini clear-out of some players left from Roberto Mancini’s reign is anticipated and Spurs are watching Gareth Barry closely.
In the final year of his deal, Barry has yet to be offered a new contract, and former City boss Mark Hughes, now at Stoke, has been linked with a move.
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas is also keen on a deal if Barry, who joined City from Aston Villa for £12m in 2009, is made available.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-6-2010
Manchester City Ready to Offer Ireland In £40m Liverpool Swoop
Mancini Attempts to Sweeten Cheeky Deal to Sign Gerrard
Eastlands outfit try whole new way to tempt Anfield sale.
Manchester City are reportedly ready to offer midfielder Stephen Ireland in any potential deal to land Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard. Roberto Mancini has been linked with repeated hopeful attempts to land the Anfield hero and is now willing to offer players as part of any big money deal to sign the England captain.
Although any hope of signing the 29 year old midfielder seem doomed the Eastlands side are not ready to give up just yet and believe that offering talented Irish international Ireland into the bargain may tempt the Merseyside outfit to consider a sale.
Liverpool were thought to be interested in Ireland during Rafa Benitez’s reign but without a manager in place it seems even less likely that any deal would be accepted. Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are under immense pressure from the club’s fans after lumbering the club with massive debts and even though a sale would help repay some of the debt the ramifications of selling the talismanic player would surely be too much for the American pair to consider.
Big-spending Blues are still playing it fair
Revenue boost means City can splash out £100m on summer transfers
Bad old City, at it again – ruining football since 2008. The Blues have embarked on another summertime spending spree, thumbing their noses at Uefa’s attempts to make clubs spend sensibly, and lighting up cigars with large wads of banknotes. Or are they?
City are owned and run by consummate businessmen, and last summer appeared to introduce a new era of sobriety in their spending, with transfer fees and salaries both being curtailed.
So why, this summer, have they already shelled out around £45m, and are in hot pursuit of Edinson Cavani, Isco and Pepe – and possibly one or two more – which could take their spending in this transfer window beyond the £100m mark.
You can hear the clicking noise as the snipers load up their rifles, ready to take more pot-shots at City’s ‘profligacy’.
Blues fans are used to it by now. When Sheikh Mansour transformed the club by taking over five years ago, it upset just about everyone who wasn’t a fan of the club.
The established rich clubs did not like a set of lottery-winning Manchester oiks elbowing their way onto the top table, and grabbing their share of the trophies and the cash.
The poorer clubs left behind to fight over scraps were simply jealous and the upshot was that the Blues have taken flak for their new-found wealth ever since – hence that shrewd City banner proclaiming that they have been ruining football since 2008.
The implication of the banner, an absolutely correct one, was that greed and the financial imbalance between the haves and have-nots existed long before City crossed that divide – but they became the whipping boys of the disgruntled masses.
Amidst the criticism, City – under the careful gaze of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and his staff – have plotted a smart course.
They knew vast investment was needed in the initial phase to quickly thrust City into title contention and into the Champions League.
With that achieved, they scaled down the spending last summer. Indeed, over the last two transfer windows, City have a net spend of around £15m, a fraction of the net spends of Chelsea (£78m), United (£53m) and Liverpool (£50m), and also less than Southampton, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham, Stoke and QPR.
Last summer’s spend of around £52m has been largely balanced out by the sales of Mario Balotelli, Nigel de Jong, Adam Johnson and Vladimir Weiss. The trouble was that it was a false economy.
New chief executive Ferran Soriano and his football director Txiki Begiristain soon recognised that this was a club which needed investment in the first team, not cutbacks. And this summer is the perfect time to do it.
Of course, City cannot simply ride rough-shod over two sets of financial fair play rules, one brought in by Uefa, the other by
the Premier League. But the Blues are quietly confident that they will meet the requirements of both those organisations, even with a big spend this summer.
Uefa’s financial fair play rules were introduced in a bid to stop clubs spending beyond their means, and next month they will begin to identify clubs they feel are trying to cheat the system.
Clubs who flout the rules will face financial measures and, ultimately, bans from European competition.
But one central tenet of Uefa’s rules gives leeway to clubs whose spending is in the red compared to income, but who can also show that they are making serious inroads into closing the gap.
City have made remarkable strides in that regard, last season halving their losses from £197m to £98m.
Earlier this season Soriano predicted that they will again halve that figure to around £50m and that break-even will be achieved in the near future.
City have also made the powerful point to Uefa that the owners have not simply splurged the money on players and their wages – there has been around £150m invested in the youth structure of the club, a clear indication of their good intentions and of the long-term nature of their involvement.
Much has been made this week of a claim that City pay the highest wages in world sport, supposedly paying an average £100,000-a-week to push baseball team LA Dodgers into second place.
While the methodology of reaching that figure has to be questioned, what is not in doubt is that the Blues are now cutting back on wage expenditure.
Having already lost Mario Balotelli off the wage bill – he was said to be on £170,000-a-week – they will also trim big earners Kolo Toure, Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz, and possibly lose their second-top earner Carlos Tevez, who bags £198,000-a-week.
New boys Fernandinho and Jesus Navas have been taken on at lower, five-figure levels.
City will also, no doubt, be selling this summer, although they want players in before they start shipping out, and will not start outgoing business until new manager Manuel Pellegrini has assessed his squad when he arrives.
The sales could include Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Joleon Lescott, all of whom would command a hefty fee, hence slashing the net spend considerably. But all of this weighing has to be set against a back-drop of City’s growth as a serious financial power.
Last season the Blues overhauled traditional giants AC Milan and Liverpool in terms of revenue, soaring to £231m on the back of Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal.
That figure is on the up, as City will again undergo leaps forward in terms of broadcasting and commercial revenue.
Since the takeover, the Blues have almost doubled their revenue from broadcasting – from £48m to £88m – and matchday revenue is up from £21m to £31m.
But the biggest increase for the Blues, by far, comes in the commercial revenue department.
A slick global marketing operation, revved up by trips to North America and the Far East, and backed by trophy success, has increased commercial revenue by almost SIX times, from £18m to £112m.
This summer’s spending recognises that, without building a squad capable of winning trophies, the other aspects of the business are undermined.
And City’s spending is, increasingly, being financed by its own revenue – and not simply being funded by a rich man’s pockets.
Stephan El Shaarawy: Manchester City Fans, Watch 5 Minutes OF Magic From 'The Pharaoh'.
Despite the striker claiming he is happy at AC Milan, here's why Man City would be wise to keep up the chase for the 20-year-old forward nicknamed 'The Pharaoh'...
It’s strange to think of Manchester City target Stephan El Shaarawy as a ‘wonderkid’ after already playing two full seasons in Milan’s first team, but at just 20 years old he’s hardly an adult. The striker bagged 19 goals for the Rossoneri this season, doing enough to alert those in charge at City. A potential move might not be too far away with AC Milan’s vice-president admitting the Milan club could be interested in selling. Excited yet City fans?
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SNUB COUNT: 63
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[/spoiler]GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-6-2011
Manchester City star Carlos Tevez faces court after his £140,000 Bentley is caught by speed camera
Manchester City ace Carlos Tevez is to appear in court after his £140,000 sports car was caught on a speed camera.
The Argentinian has been charged with failing to disclose who was driving the Bentley Continental when it was flashed by the camera.
The car was photographed on the A56 Chester Road in Stretford allegedly travelling at 38mph – 8mph over the limit. The 27-year-old striker has already pleaded not guilty and the case is listed for trial at Oldham magistrates’ court on September 14.
Two years ago, Tevez – who lives in Prestbury – had his Bentley impounded after it emerged he did not have a full UK driving licence. The car was later returned and he was not prosecuted for any driving offence. The alleged offence involving the speed camera happened on February 12 – just hours after the Blues lost 2-1 to United in a derby clash at Old Trafford.
The Eastlands club are currently battling to hold on to the £250,000-a-week striker.
Tevez recently appeared to belittle Manchester for its weather and lack of restaurants in an interview in his homeland.
Manchester City want full asking price for Bayern Munich target Jerome Boateng
Manchester City will not budge from their current valuation of defender Jerome Boateng.
The Daily Mail claims Bayern Munich must pay City’s £17.5 million asking price if a deal with Bayern Munich is to be concluded.
The price appeared to signal the end of any further negotiations but Boateng’s public declaration of his desire to return to Germany with Bayern may have a bearing.
While the onus is on Bayern to find the money they have no compulsion to
rush the deal given Boateng’s wishes.
Conversely, City will not want to keep hold of a player who does not want to be at Eastalands and a so a compromise deal may well ultimately be agreed.
Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, 29.
But Nou Camp chiefs see the Spanish international, who is currently away at the Confederations Cup, only as a goal-scoring substitute and hope to convince him to swap the Blues' bench for theirs. Daily Mirror
Paris St-Germain are hoping to beat Real Madrid to the signing of Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale, 23, with an £85m bid. DSSC
Manchester United are hoping that Real Madrid can land Bale to help them re-sign Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, 28, this summer. The Sun
Manchester United may have to pay Bayern Munich to rip up an agreement to sign Robert Lewandowski if they want to bring the 24-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker to Old Trafford. Daily Star
United winger Nani, 26, will decide his future this weekend but is expected to quit the club. Daily Star
David Moyes is closing in on Benfica defender Ezequiel Garay with an agreement in principle between the United and the Portuguese side for the 26-year-old. Daily Mirror
Striker Djibril Cisse, 31, is wanted by Qatar club Al-Gharafa on a permanent basis after spending the second half of last season there on loan from QPR. Guardian
Real Madrid will compete with Chelsea and Manchester City for Napoli forward Edinson Cavani after the Spanish club held preliminary talks with the 26-year-old Uruguayan's representatives with a view to securing his services before the new season. Guardian
Liverpool hope to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for £8m in the next week. The Merseyside club have bid £7m for the 25-year-old but the Wearsiders are holding out for nearer £10m, with the clubs likely to reach a compromise. DSSC
West Ham United are hoping to sign Chelsea striker Demba Ba, 28, and Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha, 20, on loan for next season. The Times
Fiorentina have agreed a deal with Malaga for Spanish winger Joaquin Sanchez, 31, on a two-season contract, pending a medical. Gazzetta Dello Sport
Russian club FC Anzhi Makhachkala are willing to offer Saint Etienne £21m for Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 23, who scored 20 goals in Ligue 1 last season. Sport24.com
Galatasaray's Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo, 29, says he has been approached by Juventus but has vowed never to return to the club he played for between 2009 and 2011. Tuttosport
Paris St-Germain are prepared to pay £10m compensation to Tottenham for manager Andre Villas-Boas. Daily Telegraph
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup's future has been thrown into doubt as the club broke off contact with the Dane's agent over a row about transfer targets. Daily Mirror
Wigan see Steve McClaren and Owen Coyle as the top two candidates to succeed Roberto Martinez as manager and the club hope to make an announcement on Thursday. DSSC
Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has a new role after voicing the character Frank McCay in the German version to the sequel of hit animated movie Monsters Inc, called Monsters University. Metro
GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-6-2012
City to snub Kolarov loan bid
Manchester City: Juventus enter race for Cavani Manchester City: Kolarov drops City quit hint Manchester City: Milan stand firm on Silva Manchester City will reportedly snub Juventus' bid to take Aleksandar Kolarov on loan next season in order to sell him to Inter Milan.
The 26-year-old Serbia international left-back confirmed earlier this week that he will hold future talks with his agent having become frustrated with life at the Etihad Stadium, where he dropped behind Gael Clichy in the pecking order last season following his arrival from Arsenal 12 months ago.
And Kolarov, who has made 36 appearances for City - only 12 last season - since his arrival from Lazio in 2010 for £17million, has been linked with a move back to Italy's Serie A this summer.
Inter Milan have already been linked with a swoop to take the player, who City would reportedly want £9million fort his signature, while Juventus have now been linked with a possible season-long loan offer.
But, with City boss Roberto Mancini looking to reduce his wage bill and bring in some funds following a massive outlay on new signings in the past two years, it is thought they will snub Juve and hold out for a bid from Inter or any other interested party during the transfer window.
If no firm bids come in it will not be a problem for Mancini as he sees Kolarov as the ideal back-up to Clichy, but the player is unlikely to settle for another season of kicking his heels on the bench.
Man City and Bayern Munich considering sensational player exchange
Premier League champions Manchester City and Champions League finalists Bayern Munich could bet set for a player exchange, according to French sports daily L’Equipe. The players in question are Edin Dzeko and Thomas Muller. A like for like replacement seems to be on the cards, though it would seem like some money could also exchange hands, most probably from City to Bayern.
Both Dzeko and Muller have seen their role shrink in their teams’ attack this season, and there have been rumours recently of Dzeko wanting to leave England and go back to the Bundesliga. It could be the case that City are using the opportunity to prise one of Munich’s best. The English club have also been looking at a number of strikers, Arsenal captain Robain van Persie and Napoli’s Edinson Cavani to name a few.
Muller primarily plays as a second striker and could fit right into the City team with Sergio Aguero up top, or on the right side of a three-pronged attack with Aguero and Samir Nasri. At 22, he is a player who could be staying for a long time at the club.
Dzeko’s season has been nothing to write home about. Even though he has scored 14 goals in 28 appearances, the lack of first team football is an issue with the player. Dzeko’s national team coach Safet Susic has urged the player to leave the club and look for first team opportunities
Man City and Chelsea face competition for Napoli star's signing
Manchester City and Chelsea will be rivalled by Serie A champions Juventus for the signing of Napoli star Edinson Cavani.
Roberto Mancini is a long-term admirer of the striker and Chelsea are in the market for a Didier Drogba replacement.
But Juventus, who won the title without being particularly prolific, are now ready to offer the Uruguayan a third option.
The Old Lady Of Turin have a £30m budget for a striker this summer, to eradicate the high number of draws they totted up last campaign, and Robin Van Persie, Luis Suarez and Carlos Tevez have all been mooted.
According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, Juve are prepared to offer Napoli a lump cash sum as well as one or possibly two players, with Alessandro Matri believed to be on a shortlist of players considered as a possible makeweight.
But Napoli are desperate to keep hold of Cavani as the sale of fellow striker Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG is almost a formality. TalkB*l**
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