The mancityfans.net football forum

MANCHESTER CITY have agreed a £36million deal to sign Benfica's Angel Di Maria in January.



Although contract negotiations are not finalised, City are confident they will bring the in-form midfielder to Eastlands. The Argentina star has been identified by Mark Hughes as a long-term successor for Robinho. The Benfica playmaker, 21, has emerged as the inspiration behind the free-scoring Portuguese side's quest for the Europa League and their domestic title.

City are believed to have spoken to Benfica and the player's representatives in South America about doing a deal for as early as the next transfer window. They had hoped to land Di Maria for less than the quoted price but a clause in his contract, which runs until 2015, says he cannot leave for less than £36m. He has been brought to the attention of Premier League clubs after twice starring in victories over Everton in Europe. Chelsea have also been eyeing him this season but are not likely to meet the asking price. Di Maria's arrival would certainly spell the end of Robinho's time at City, although he will have to wait for the summer for a move to Barcelona. He was told there would be no January exit during talks with chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak during the club's trip to Abu Dhabi. Khaldoon believes his return to fitness will help the club's Champions League ambitions. But boss Mark Hughes remains indifferent to the Brazilian.

Brazil’s Robinho insists he’s not swapping City for Barca http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp? ... sec=sports

Micah Richards reveals hurt over England snub ... hmmm http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Mi ... 21807.html

City meanwhile will make a £20m January bid for Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.Sunday Mirror
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Ma ... 21955.html

Manchester United and City are both keen on Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko who is rated at £20m. Mail on Sunday http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... title.html

[youtube]yn8IFmiL2yg[/youtube]

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester United and Chelsea are fighting it out to sign Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell who is valued at £20m. News of the World

United are also lining up a £15m January bid for Bayern Munich right-back Philipp Lahm.Sunday Mirror

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez hopes to raise £15m from the sale of defender Andrea Dossena and forward Ryan Babel - and wants to splash some of the cash on Hamburg striker Eljero Elia.Sunday Mirror

Liverpool are also keen on Arsenal striker Eduardo and are poised to make a £10m bid for Croatian. News of the World

Reds midfielder Javier Mascherano looks set for a £30m move to Barcelona after his advisors agreed the player's personal terms with the Spanish club. (Sunday Express)

Arsenal are preparing a £5m bid for Hoffenheim's Brazilian midfielder Maicosuel. News of the World

The Gunners are also keen on Cardiff City full-back Adam Matthews and are planning a £5m swoop for the 17-year-old. (Sunday Express)

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are all battling it out to sign 16-year-old striker Connor Wickham from Ipswich in January. Mail on Sunday

Tottenham are set to renew their interest in Sevilla winger Diego Capel. News of the World

Chelsea will have to match Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero's huge £6.5m a year wages to land the striker.News of the World

The Blues are also leading the chase to sign Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku who has already attracted interest from AC Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United. News of the World

Birmingham are lining up a £7m bid for Celtic winger Aiden McGeady. News of the World

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is set to raid his old club Swansea City for £2m-rated defender Ashley Williams. News of the World

Portsmouth have set their sights on a January double swoop for Nice striker Loic Remy and Marseille winger Hatem Ben Arfa. News of the World

Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson has been told he cannot leave the club in January despite interest from Sunderland, Spurs, Chelsea and Everton. News of the World

Former England striker Darius Vassell who currently plays for Turkish side Ankaragucu is hoping to secure a January switch to Bolton.News of the World

Sunderland will go after Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique if they fail to sign Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa in January. (Sunday Express)

WAG OF THE DAY

http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... -mali-levi

OTHER GOSSIP
Former Manchester United defender and current Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc is being lined up to replace current Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.Sunday Mirror

But former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who is currently in charge at Inter Milan, is confident that Ferguson will recommend him for the job as he is keen for a return to English football. Sunday Times

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie could be out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious ankle injury in Holland's friendly match against Italy. Mail on Sunday

West Ham are set to formally announce the retirement of striker Dean Ashton. Sunday Mirror

The Hammers could demand up to £5m in compensation after losing the services of 26-year-old Ashton. (Sunday Express)

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will put the Championship club back up for sale if they get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.News of the World

AND FINALLY
The infamous beach ball that diverted Sunderland striker Darren Bent's shot past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina and into the goal earlier in the season has been sold at auction for £411.77. Full story: News of the World

Chinners, I would just like to take a moment to congratulate you on the remodelling of your (always splendid) B*ll*x.

I love the classic match clips and I love the jewish princess WAG today. I would slice her bagel any day

That fella looked the bizz when I saw him play against Everton in the two legs of their Europa league games recently, and would be a great addition, but would he look as good for City?.

He and nobody else should be coming to City to "replace" Robinho, as we shouldn't be selling talents like Robinho to begin with, but rather put around him more quality that will bring the best out of him and ultimately the club.

Also the likes of Mesmut Ozil, Rafael van der Vaart, Sebastian Sessagnon, Ivan Rakitic, Toni Kroos or Lulinha, should be targetted for January as well, as the club need that sort of player now, and will only do so again in 2 months time. (creative midfielder)

Does Mascherano going to Barca maybe free up one of their current DM's?

We dont need a left side forward. We dont need any forwards. We need the best of the best at the back. End of.

irblinx wrote:Does Mascherano going to Barca maybe free up one of their current DM's?

Yaya has been linked repeatedly with us. Wouldn't mind a bit o that.

I feel sorry for this gutter press.........................

One day they will realise what we all have known for the last 2 years......united have not a pot to piss in until June, when they get the annual CL qualifying revenue and that is it.

The debt interest levels are rising faster than the Ice Block are melting in the Antartic region, they are willing to spend £20m here, £15m there, £20m there.....they DON'T HAVE THE FUCKING MONEY YOU PRESS TWITS.

The funds from Tranny only went to keeping the bailiffs at bay and the intrest payed for this year, as if they had cash Taggart would have spent it in the summer...on the likes of Benzema, Ribery, Villa and Silva who apparently he was interested in, but the £20m tag on Silva put him off.......if you have £62m, that wouldn't put you off would it?

There is no way Silva was available to take away at £20 million. And no they dont have our dosh but they unfortunatly still have a lot more pull in the market. And the debt they have is relative. They can still afford to splash the cash occasionally. Taggart didnt buy because he had spent 20 mill each on the likes of Nani , Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves. We have to be more realistic about our position in the game. It will be a few years before we have the same pull as the rags. Patience is not your thing is it?

AlanBallsHat wrote:

irblinx wrote:Does Mascherano going to Barca maybe free up one of their current DM's?

Yaya has been linked repeatedly with us. Wouldn't mind a bit o that.

kinda what I was getting at!

AlanBallsHat wrote:There is no way Silva was available to take away at £20 million. And no they dont have our dosh but they unfortunatly still have a lot more pull in the market. And the debt they have is relative. They can still afford to splash the cash occasionally. Taggart didnt buy because he had spent 20 mill each on the likes of Nani , Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves. We have to be more realistic about our position in the game. It will be a few years before we have the same pull as the rags. Patience is not your thing is it?

Spot on, Scum may have massive debts but the banks are happy for them to operate that way, whilst you are never likely to see them match our recent spree unfortunately they also don't need to as they've got a squad that keeps on winning things. Their standing in the game worldwide and so far untouchable CL qualification record means that they are still miles ahead of us in attractiveness to big name players and only time and considerable success on our part is likely to change that. Our best hope is still to outbid the other clubs in the first place before the players head gets turned

I dont know wherever to believe or not to believe that we have signed Di Maria!! He is a fantastic player and i would love him here! But the papers might be chatting bollox AGAIN!! And if we do sign this lad, There will be some kind of way that we can fit in Di Maria and Robinho. I think?

irblinx wrote:

AlanBallsHat wrote:

irblinx wrote:Does Mascherano going to Barca maybe free up one of their current DM's?

Yaya has been linked repeatedly with us. Wouldn't mind a bit o that.

kinda what I was getting at!

AlanBallsHat wrote:There is no way Silva was available to take away at £20 million. And no they dont have our dosh but they unfortunatly still have a lot more pull in the market. And the debt they have is relative. They can still afford to splash the cash occasionally. Taggart didnt buy because he had spent 20 mill each on the likes of Nani , Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves. We have to be more realistic about our position in the game. It will be a few years before we have the same pull as the rags. Patience is not your thing is it?

Spot on, Scum may have massive debts but the banks are happy for them to operate that way, whilst you are never likely to see them match our recent spree unfortunately they also don't need to as they've got a squad that keeps on winning things. Their standing in the game worldwide and so far untouchable CL qualification record means that they are still miles ahead of us in attractiveness to big name players and only time and considerable success on our part is likely to change that. Our best hope is still to outbid the other clubs in the first place before the players head gets turned

Pulling power never signed anyone money does we have it they don't sooner or later the banks are going to say NO, as you said patience is something we all must have but our owners will not wait forever

Blueboylewis wrote:I dont know wherever to believe or not to believe that we have signed Di Maria!! He is a fantastic player and i would love him here! But the papers might be chatting bollox AGAIN!! And if we do sign this lad, There will be some kind of way that we can fit in Di Maria and Robinho. I think?

Robinho is as good as gone. He won't play much if at all for us again. We have Bellamy and Petrov for that position anyway and both are good enough. We dont need either of them mate.

irblinx wrote:

AlanBallsHat wrote:

irblinx wrote:Does Mascherano going to Barca maybe free up one of their current DM's?

Yaya has been linked repeatedly with us. Wouldn't mind a bit o that.

kinda what I was getting at!

AlanBallsHat wrote:There is no way Silva was available to take away at £20 million. And no they dont have our dosh but they unfortunatly still have a lot more pull in the market. And the debt they have is relative. They can still afford to splash the cash occasionally. Taggart didnt buy because he had spent 20 mill each on the likes of Nani , Anderson, Carrick and Hargreaves. We have to be more realistic about our position in the game. It will be a few years before we have the same pull as the rags. Patience is not your thing is it?

Spot on, Scum may have massive debts but the banks are happy for them to operate that way, whilst you are never likely to see them match our recent spree unfortunately they also don't need to as they've got a squad that keeps on winning things. Their standing in the game worldwide and so far untouchable CL qualification record means that they are still miles ahead of us in attractiveness to big name players and only time and considerable success on our part is likely to change that. Our best hope is still to outbid the other clubs in the first place before the players head gets turned

Thing is though once we start getting into Europe and getting pull and knock em off the top spot the banks aren't gonna be as nice with them.

AlanBallsHat wrote:

irblinx wrote:Does Mascherano going to Barca maybe free up one of their current DM's?

Yaya has been linked repeatedly with us. Wouldn't mind a bit o that.

For us to get Yaya we need to start bucking our ideas up and get on the winnning road starting at Liverpool. For us to attract world class players we have to be a top 4 team i think and come January if we are in 4th place or maybe higher then there is a chance that we might get Yaya or better!!

Yaya might want to come now since he has spoken to Kolo but if we are in a great position in the table come January then it might sweeten up the deal a bit more!

Hasn't Keita been in better form recently?

Last night on the commentary they said "Robinho has been busy in the last 24 hours, saying he wants nothing more to do with the Manchester club." I was quite shocked as I hadn't read that anywhere.

Slim wrote:Hasn't Keita been in better form recently?

Last night on the commentary they said "Robinho has been busy in the last 24 hours, saying he wants nothing more to do with the Manchester club." I was quite shocked as I hadn't read that anywhere.

Keita is only in better form because Yaya isnt getting a chance!! Imo Yaya is a better player than Keita but the longer Yaya doesnt get played the better chance we have got of signing him imo!

We need to just stop worrying about Robinho. We have nothing to worry about imo. He isnt going anywhere.

EXTRA BOLLOX

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes feels Craig Bellamy has shaken off the 'bad boy' image which marred his early career. The Welsh striker has often courted controversy down the years, with spells at Newcastle and Liverpool seeing him never far from the headlines.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 51,00.html

Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook can't predict when they will break even, despite the Uefa president Michel Platini's proposal that clubs who fail to balance their books within three years will be barred from European competition. The European Club Association backs Platini's proposals that clubs who fail to do so will be excluded from Europe.

"You can't predict the wage base," Cook told the Independent on Sunday. "From a business standpoint it's not the smartest thing to start to predict long-term financial profit and loss statements. That's not lack of discipline or naivety – that's the reality of a business model which is a moving target. It's foolish to put a line in the sand and predict dates by which you break even."

City, Cook indicated, will lobby through the Premier League against any plans which create a disincentive to prospective foreign investors. "We should always allow investment in the Premier League. It's the greatest league in the world – a truly global entity – and we should always allow that investment, as long as everybody manages the integrity and the Premier League puts governance in place to control who [invests] and how."


Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook admits the UK's new tax laws will affect their transfer plans.
Cook believes that Britain's new 50 per cent higher tax rate – seven per cent higher than Spain's equivalent – will make the task of bringing in players tougher. He told the Independent on Sunday: "It is going to be challenging getting players in because there's [additional] financial demands on a club to bring those players in. But there is that emotional effect of the game which says the Premier League is one of the best leagues to play in."

FULL INDEPENDENT ARTICLE BOLLOX
City facing Euro ban if they don't break even

City have no intention of allowing Robinho to go to Barcelona, although they say the Catalan club have unsettled their £160,000-a-week striker

The Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook has said the club cannot put a date on when they will begin to break even, despite the Uefa president Michel Platini's proposal that clubs who fail to balance their books within three years will be barred from European competition.

City's wage bill has more than doubled to an estimated £90m since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan took ownership 14 months ago. And the unpredictability of future wage demands makes it impossible to predict when the club will, as Platini desires, be spending only what they earn from their television income, ticket receipts and commercial activities. The European Club Association backs Platini's proposals that clubs who fail to do so will be excluded from Europe.

"You can't predict the wage base," Cook said. "From a business standpoint it's not the smartest thing to start to predict long-term financial profit and loss statements. That's not lack of discipline or naivety – that's the reality of a business model which is a moving target. It's foolish to put a line in the sand and predict dates by which you break even."

Though no transfer window will be quite like the summer's in which City spent £120m, their Abu Dhabi owners proved then that they will react to changing conditions in the transfer market. That they spent so voraciously was, in part, a response to their discovery that the economic downturn had made it a buyer's market.

City are aware that as Chelsea have less ambition to buy, and that Liverpool and Manchester United have high levels of debt, they are able to consider themselves the main players in the Premier League market.

Cook's chairman, Khaldoon al Mubarek, argues that Platini's proposals would curb the freedom of owners to buy and invest in "mid-tier" clubs and deliver a monopoly on European success to what are already the richest clubs. City, Cook indicated, will lobby through the Premier League against any plans which create a disincentive to prospective foreign investors. "We should always allow investment in the Premier League. It's the greatest league in the world – a truly global entity – and we should always allow that investment, as long as everybody manages the integrity and the Premier League puts governance in place to control who [invests] and how."

There is indignation at City that the levels of investment by Sheikh Mansour are being frowned upon in a way that debt-leveraged clubs are not – even though the Sheikh's capital investment at every level of the club has gone some way to quell initial suspicions that he was simply out for rapid glory.

Evidence of the investment was everywhere among the 83-strong City contingent in Abu Dhabi last week. In Cook's company at the Emirates Palace hotel, for instance, was one of the specialists brought in by the Arabs to ensure City's training pitches include four levels of grass to allow them to prepare for the exact conditions of various Premier League games.

While Liverpool's £30m Champions' League income is vital to cover their American owners' annual debt repayments, Cook said City will be able to budget for seasons in which they do not make it to the tournament.

Not qualifying, Cook said, has "a financial impact on your overall performance as an entity, a business, and you have to adapt and react to that. But what I don't want anybody to think is that we don't worry whether we are in it or not because we don't need the money. I'm building a financial plan that includes playing in the Champions' League. I also have a scenario B, in the event we don't make it – because that's good business".

The longer City take to break through to the top four, the longer they will need to provide extra wage incentives to entice players to the club and Cook believes that Britain's new 50 per cent higher tax rate – seven per cent higher than Spain's equivalent – will make the task of bringing in players tougher. "It is going to be challenging getting players in because there's [additional] financial demands on a club to bring those players in. But there is that emotional effect of the game which says the Premier League is one of the best leagues to play in."

City have no intentions of allowing Robinho to leave for Barcelona, though there is a view within the club that the Catalans have been unsettling their £160,000-a-week Brazilian. Mark Hughes sees the player as an important component of an assault on a top-four place this year, an attainment Cook believes is within City's reach. "When do I want to be in the Champions' League and when is it feasible?" he said. "I want us to be in the Champions' League next season, I want us to be playing Champions' League football every season."

The Angel Di Maria is in the NOTW = Bollox

I'm sure we can break even with a mind boggling Sponsorhip deal with Etihad again if necessary.
It's exactly what it is.... bollox !

As for Di Matia, I'd rather we were chasing Zdeko.

Whether all these rumours are good for the club or not is difficult to work out, personally i wish there weren't any until
January, but these guys will do anything to sell a story and make money.

It is interesting to read though that Micah is now bitching about not getting a look-in
with England and that Young is being selected ahead of him.
Looks like Micah is going to have to improve his game.