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Manchester City to flex financial muscles by beating Liverpool to Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez
Manchester City are weighing up a deal for Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez.
The highly-rated 21-year-old has been linked with Liverpool over recent years but City scouts have monitored him closely in recent months and have been putting together an extensive file documenting his background, habits and personality.
They also had scouts in the crowd in Austria on Saturday as he made his full Spain debut coming on as a substitute for Barcelona's Xavi against Saudi Arabia.
Martinez, who is rated at around £18million, is 6ft 3ins tall and plays in an attacking midfield position.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is a big fan but cannot compete financially with City who are working through a list of targets headed by Valencia's David Silva.

Brazilian youngster Ganso targeted by Manchester United and City
Manchester City and Manchester United are locked in a battle over Brazilian playmaker Ganso , according to the Daily Mail.
The 20-year-old is currently at Brazilian side Santos and was a major player for them last season.
Considered to have excellent technique, Ganso is capable of using his body well to retain possession but is particularly dangerous creating chances and going forward.
He is rated so highly that Santos have tied down the player, whose real name is Paulo Henrique, to a contract until 2014. The nickname Ganso means "the goose".
Manchester City reportedly have first refusal on Ganso , as part of the loan deal which took Robinho to Santos from Eastlands in January. However, their first refusal option will reportedly expire on August 4.
If Manchester City fail to take advantage, the Daily Mail says that Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to step in. Manchester United officials have reportedly already made contact with Santos. Given that they already boast Brazilian youngsters such as the Da Silva brothers and Rodrigo Possebon , Manchester United will fancy their chances of luring Ganso to Old Trafford.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea have paved the way for midfielder Joe Cole's departure from Stamford Bridge by formalising their interest in Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun. The Guardian

Benayoun is confident the move will go through and claimed that Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti "wants me for next season". (The Daily Telegraph)

Rangers are still waiting to see if Liverpool will make an improved offer for 18-year-old defender Danny Wilson after the Ibrox club rejected an initial £2m bid from the Reds. Daily Mail

Blackburn are considering a swoop for Rangers striker Kris Boyd, who is set to leave the Scottish Premier League champions as a free agent.The Sun

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reportedly interested in signing £12m-rated teenage Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic.caughtoffside.com

And the Red Devils have contacted Brazilian side Santos about the possibility of taking 20-year-old midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso to Old Trafford.Daily Mail

Arsenal have joined Aston Villa in the battle to sign Wigan's Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega, who the Latics value at £10m. Daily Mirror

The Gunners have made an inquiry about the possibility of signing England midfielder Joe Cole from Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge outfit, meanwhile, remain interested in acquiring Shakhtar Donetsk's £15m-rated Croatian right-back Darijo Srna. Daily Mail

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is also targeting Ajax's 22-year-old right-back Gregory van der Wiel, the young player of the year in the Netherlands, because out-of-favour Habib Beye and Luke Young, who is eyeing a move to West Ham, are set to leave Villa Park this summer.Daily Mirror

Villa and Sunderland have joined Birmingham in the race to sign Fulham striker Bobby Zamora. (The Sun)

Neil Lennon will be promoted from interim boss to permanent manager at Celtic on Tuesday and will immediately set his sights on acquiring Hull playmaker Jimmy Bullard, Cardiff's midfielder Joe Ledley and Stoke wide man Liam Lawrence.(Daily Record)

Paddy McCourt, though, may be on his way out of Parkhead, with Premier League new boys Blackpool interested in the 26-year-old Northern Ireland midfielder. The Sun

Barcelona will renew their chase of Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. However, their big-money pursuit of Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas could scupper their plans to sign the Argentine, who the Reds value at close to £30m.Daily Mail

Bordeaux ace Yoann Gourcuff, France's first-choice playmaker in the World Cup, is being lined up as a £21.8m replacement for Fabregas at the Emirates. The Sun

Fulham could snap up versatile Hungarian international midfielder Daniel Tozser from Belgian club Racing Genk for about £2.5m. Daily Mail

Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, 19, is a £1m target for French team St Etienne. (The Sun)

WAG OF THE DAY
http://mswiley2508.wordpress.com/2009/0 ... ly-zucker/

OTHER BOLLOX
Former Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate and ex-Milton Keynes Dons boss Paul Ince are both in contention for the managerial vacancies at Portsmouth and Notts County. Daily Mail

Russia's 2018 World Cup bid chief Alexei Sorokin has branded fans of rival bidders England "the utmost hooligans". In the wake of ex-Football Association chairman Lord Triesman's controversial claims that Russia was involved in bribing referees, Sorokin said his bid team "are in a state of information war" with England. Daily Mirror

Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti will make a formal approach to Fabio Capello's representatives on Monday, just as the FA holds emergency talks with the England manager in a bid to shore up the Italian's future. Daily Mail

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni claims he turned down the chance to become Celtic boss three months ago. (Daily Express)

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is keen to retain penalty-taking duties for England, despite missing from the spot against Japan on Sunday. Mail on Sunday

Millwall chairman John Berylson has revealed his debt of gratitude to former Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who convinced Kenny Jackett, the man who guided the Bermondsey side to promotion to the Championship, to become Lions manager when the pair were working together at Eastlands.Daily Mirror

I really like the idea of Javi Martinez. I've seen him few times and plays way beyond his years.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:I really like the idea of Javi Martinez. I've seen him few times and plays way beyond his years.

Gotta be honest, I've never heard of him but I like the fact that he plays in the position we need someone and is only 21. See if anything else develops today

"Millwall chairman John Berylson has revealed his debt of gratitude to former Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who convinced Kenny Jackett, the man who guided the Bermondsey side to promotion to the Championship, to become Lions manager when the pair were working together at Eastlands.Daily Mirror"

...............in one stroke removing any doubt that the womanising one is totally potty! Convincing one of your best staff they want to leave, even if they dont.

craigmcfc wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:I really like the idea of Javi Martinez. I've seen him few times and plays way beyond his years.

Gotta be honest, I've never heard of him but I like the fact that he plays in the position we need someone and is only 21. See if anything else develops today

I am wondering how far down the list he is, we have already had reports of Gerrard, Gourcuff and Silva and now this guy, we are probably only after the one player in that position and right now we look like transfer sluts hopping from one player to the next.

We only look like transfer sluts if you actually believe all the reports ... couldn't see you falling for most of this nonsense tbh

Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

Slim wrote:Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

If you believ in all the rumours then yeah, that's the way it looks right now. I belive that we might end up being seriously underwhelmed by this transfer window in the end. It seems that every tosser and their dog see us as final option right now. Well, time for Marwood to prove he is worth his position and make these deals happen.

I think I could live with 2 signings, I think we need 4 but if we hang on to the squad we have then 2 in the right spots should see us right.

Slim wrote:Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

You would hope that it is just paper-talk because the more people that turn us down, the more we get a bad reputation. I think the names we are being linked with are a bit farflung, and only because we've got the money and every club can use us to drive up the price. I'm sure Garry Cook and Mancio are aware of our position and are not going all out to get the the likes of Yaya et al as they don't want another Eto'o debacle, although there is nothing wrong with sounding them out.

I'm expecting acquisitions of a different nature and not the BIG names, more like a few young up and coming (21-24) and couple of not quite over the hill quality pro's (28-31).

Beefymcfc wrote:

Slim wrote:Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

You would hope that it is just paper-talk because the more people that turn us down, the more we get a bad reputation. I think the names we are being linked with are a bit farflung, and only because we've got the money and every club can use us to drive up the price. I'm sure Garry Cook and Mancio are aware of our position and are not going all out to get the the likes of Yaya et al as they don't want another Eto'o debacle, although there is nothing wrong with sounding them out.

I'm expecting acquisitions of a different nature and not the BIG names, more like a few young up and coming (21-24) and couple of not quite over the hill quality pro's (28-31).

I'm quite sure Marwood takes care of the discussions. I'm 100% sure Mancini isn't even involved. I think he has given Marwood a wishlist but that's all.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Slim wrote:Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

You would hope that it is just paper-talk because the more people that turn us down, the more we get a bad reputation. I think the names we are being linked with are a bit farflung, and only because we've got the money and every club can use us to drive up the price. I'm sure Garry Cook and Mancio are aware of our position and are not going all out to get the the likes of Yaya et al as they don't want another Eto'o debacle, although there is nothing wrong with sounding them out.

I'm expecting acquisitions of a different nature and not the BIG names, more like a few young up and coming (21-24) and couple of not quite over the hill quality pro's (28-31).

I'm quite sure Marwood takes care of the discussions. I'm 100% sure Mancini isn't even involved. I think he has given Marwood a wishlist but that's all.

Yes mate, that's what Marwood's for. Mancio makes his list, him and Cookie transmit that list for authorisation by Khaldoon on behalf of the Shiekh and Marwood gets the player (hopefully). I didn't mean that Mancini was involved with negotiations personally, but I'm pretty sure he'll want to be involved at some stage, afterall, he's the one they will be playing for and a lot of players will have far more respect for him rather than the Brass.

Beefymcfc wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Slim wrote:Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

You would hope that it is just paper-talk because the more people that turn us down, the more we get a bad reputation. I think the names we are being linked with are a bit farflung, and only because we've got the money and every club can use us to drive up the price. I'm sure Garry Cook and Mancio are aware of our position and are not going all out to get the the likes of Yaya et al as they don't want another Eto'o debacle, although there is nothing wrong with sounding them out.

I'm expecting acquisitions of a different nature and not the BIG names, more like a few young up and coming (21-24) and couple of not quite over the hill quality pro's (28-31).

I'm quite sure Marwood takes care of the discussions. I'm 100% sure Mancini isn't even involved. I think he has given Marwood a wishlist but that's all.

Yes mate, that's what Marwood's for. Mancio makes his list, him and Cookie transmit that list for authorisation by Khaldoon on behalf of the Shiekh and Marwood gets the player (hopefully). I didn't mean that Mancini was involved with negotiations personally, but I'm pretty sure he'll want to be involved at some stage, afterall, he's the one they will be playing for and a lot of players will have far more respect for him rather than the Brass.

Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:

Slim wrote:Ever the skeptic, but it's annoying me. Appearances convince outsiders and we look like fucking morons in the transfer market at the moment.

You would hope that it is just paper-talk because the more people that turn us down, the more we get a bad reputation. I think the names we are being linked with are a bit farflung, and only because we've got the money and every club can use us to drive up the price. I'm sure Garry Cook and Mancio are aware of our position and are not going all out to get the the likes of Yaya et al as they don't want another Eto'o debacle, although there is nothing wrong with sounding them out.

I'm expecting acquisitions of a different nature and not the BIG names, more like a few young up and coming (21-24) and couple of not quite over the hill quality pro's (28-31).

I'm quite sure Marwood takes care of the discussions. I'm 100% sure Mancini isn't even involved. I think he has given Marwood a wishlist but that's all.

Yes mate, that's what Marwood's for. Mancio makes his list, him and Cookie transmit that list for authorisation by Khaldoon on behalf of the Shiekh and Marwood gets the player (hopefully). I didn't mean that Mancini was involved with negotiations personally, but I'm pretty sure he'll want to be involved at some stage, afterall, he's the one they will be playing for and a lot of players will have far more respect for him rather than the Brass.

Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

How have you managed to form such a low opinion of Marwood?

I'm not a fan of his, I'm neutral on it at the moment as there has been so little to go on with regards to his performance. The only thing we know he has done for sure is sign AJ. You post this type of stuff about Marwood regularly I just wonder if I have missed something?

Why do you have such a downer on him?

CityGer wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:
Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

How have you managed to formed such a low opinion of Marwood?

I'm not a fan of his, I'm neutral on it at the moment as there has been so little to go on with regards to his performance. The only thing we know he has done for sure is sign AJ. You post this type of stuff about Marwood regularly I just wonder if I have missed something?

Why do you have such a downer on him?

I don't know why it comes through why I have something against Marwood? You are not first person to ask.

Personally I find it strange how Marwood, who doesn't really have any relevant experience, was chosen to such key job in big club like ours. It's not his FAULT though. It's just time to show his claws and get this deals done.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

CityGer wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:
Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

How have you managed to formed such a low opinion of Marwood?

I'm not a fan of his, I'm neutral on it at the moment as there has been so little to go on with regards to his performance. The only thing we know he has done for sure is sign AJ. You post this type of stuff about Marwood regularly I just wonder if I have missed something?

Why do you have such a downer on him?

I don't know why it comes through why I have something against Marwood? You are not first person to ask.

Personally I find it strange how Marwood, who doesn't really have any relevant experience, was chosen to such key job in big club like ours. It's not his FAULT though. It's just time to show his claws and get this deals done.

Thing is, it's quite a unique role so there isn't really a universal job spec for it. There aren't many clubs who employ someone to do for them what Marwood does for us so I'm not sure you can say that he doesn't have the relevant experience. What is the relevant experience for his role?

Is it a strange one but I don't think any of us know enough about his reponsibilities and contributions so far to evaluate his performance. If we're talkinmg about talent spotting and getting deals done then he gets a big tick from me for the AJ signing.

This would all be solved and his role would become redundant if we did what we should have done a long time ago and replaced Cook with someone who is available and undoubtedly has the relevant experience for the role. That's a whole new debate, though.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

CityGer wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:
Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

How have you managed to formed such a low opinion of Marwood?

I'm not a fan of his, I'm neutral on it at the moment as there has been so little to go on with regards to his performance. The only thing we know he has done for sure is sign AJ. You post this type of stuff about Marwood regularly I just wonder if I have missed something?

Why do you have such a downer on him?

I don't know why it comes through why I have something against Marwood? You are not first person to ask.

Personally I find it strange how Marwood, who doesn't really have any relevant experience, was chosen to such key job in big club like ours. It's not his FAULT though. It's just time to show his claws and get this deals done.

This keeps cropping up that's why it looks like you've something against him mate!

And everytime you raise this issue its pointed out that he has an impressive CV that includes top football and marketing positions - both of which comes in handy when doing research on and trying to intice players to the club IMO.

Original Dub wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

CityGer wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:
Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

How have you managed to formed such a low opinion of Marwood?

I'm not a fan of his, I'm neutral on it at the moment as there has been so little to go on with regards to his performance. The only thing we know he has done for sure is sign AJ. You post this type of stuff about Marwood regularly I just wonder if I have missed something?

Why do you have such a downer on him?

I don't know why it comes through why I have something against Marwood? You are not first person to ask.

Personally I find it strange how Marwood, who doesn't really have any relevant experience, was chosen to such key job in big club like ours. It's not his FAULT though. It's just time to show his claws and get this deals done.

This keeps cropping up that's why it looks like you've something against him mate!

And everytime you raise this issue its pointed out that he has an impressive CV that includes top football and marketing positions - both of which comes in handy when doing research on and trying to intice players to the club IMO.

This comes up every time you post redundant shit or talk out your butt crack.

My opinions on cook and marwood are that they are doing a job and khaldoon isn't some joker who'd let incompetence rule the day. So either they are doing what's expected or snowing khaldoon or khaldoon is incompetent as well. I don't buy either of the last two positions so im holding out faith that cook and marwood are doing a reasonable job.

Unlike some on here i don't find cook a tragicomedy figure of epic fail proportions. And i don't care that cook and marwood are besties who worked together before. In fact i quite like familiarity in a team.

If you think we would be better off with a peter kenyon in a "proper" role instead i can see that argument, but i think things are alright.

Everything's OK!

Cheers

DoomMerchant wrote:

Original Dub wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:

CityGer wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:
Yeah, for sure mate. I just meant that it's time for Marwood to deliver.

Whether w actually ever were seriously after likes of Gerrard is pure speculation though. It is possible that Mancini wants only young and hungry players anyway.

How have you managed to formed such a low opinion of Marwood?

I'm not a fan of his, I'm neutral on it at the moment as there has been so little to go on with regards to his performance. The only thing we know he has done for sure is sign AJ. You post this type of stuff about Marwood regularly I just wonder if I have missed something?

Why do you have such a downer on him?

I don't know why it comes through why I have something against Marwood? You are not first person to ask.

Personally I find it strange how Marwood, who doesn't really have any relevant experience, was chosen to such key job in big club like ours. It's not his FAULT though. It's just time to show his claws and get this deals done.

This keeps cropping up that's why it looks like you've something against him mate!

And everytime you raise this issue its pointed out that he has an impressive CV that includes top football and marketing positions - both of which comes in handy when doing research on and trying to intice players to the club IMO.

This comes up every time you post redundant shit or talk out your butt crack.

My opinions on cook and marwood are that they are doing a job and khaldoon isn't some joker who'd let incompetence rule the day. So either they are doing what's expected or snowing khaldoon or khaldoon is incompetent as well. I don't buy either of the last row positions so im holding out faith that cook and marwood are doing a reasonable job.

Unlike some on here i don't find cook a tragicomedy figure of epic fail proportions. And i don't care that cook and marwood are besties who worked together before. In fact i quite like familiarity in a team.

If you think we would be better off with a peter kenyon in a "proper" role instead i can see that argument, but i think things are alright.

Everything's OK!

Cheers

That's who I was hinting at in my previous post but it's a seperate debate.

every summer its different bullshit i swear i had never heard of a buy out clause expiring, its all the range this summer though! everything is a lie, but can't help reading it none the less thanks chinners!