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Just found this on espn.com


Japan internationals Keisuke Honda and Yuki Abe are lined up as the first new signings of Manchester City's ambitions to win the Premier League title and take on Europe's elite in the Champions League.


GettyImages / Epsilon
Keisuke Honda: Hot property
• City rule out summer spree

Linked with all the world stars from Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Mancini's first global assault takes place with City broadening their global reach.

Honda is rated one of the best footballers Japan has produced. The forward made an impact in the World Cup finals, alongside Yuki Abe in midfield.

Honda is currently with CSKA Moscow, while his close friend Abe has already sampled life in England and the game in this country under Sven Goran Eriksson at Leicester City.

Even though there has been absolutely zero speculation about either Japanese stars, an ESPNsoccernet insider says: "The deals are under way, and expect both players to be at Eastlands."

Honda is a recognised global figure having come to the attention of Liverpool earlier in the season when Roy Hodgson was still manager. Honda been has linked with Arsenal since the World Cup, as well as AC Milan.

Honda started his career at Gamba Osaka, the same club as former Arsenal player Junichi Inamoto, before moving onto Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Yuki Abe moved from Urawa Red Diamonds to Leicester City but is now eager to join Honda at Eastlands. He played in all of Japan's World Cup games before they lost to Paraguay in the first knockout round.

He was the youngest ever to play in the J-League when he made his debut in August 1998 and played a vital role in Urawa wining the 2007 Asian Champions League. The 29-year-old has made 36 appearances for Leicester this season, scoring one goal.

This is some leftfield transfer bollox. Anyone seen these players? Ive never heard of them

Surely this has got to be a joke?

I doubt that City want them, maybe in an exceptional case Honda. Imagine the income from the asian fans.
It would be more a marketing campaign.

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Surely this has got to be a joke?

That was my initial reaction. Unless, as peter parker says, it's a marketing ploy?

Honda looked pretty decent in the World Cup if that's anything to go by.

I liked Honda at the world cup - haven't seen him play since though. I mentioned him a while back, and one or two people have mentioned him on here since then - maybe it's a slow news day and they're being lazy and fishing for targets on the forums.

Abe, the long awaited Sun replacement, at last.

No offence, but Championship is about his level. Also turning 30 this year.

Smells like burushitu.

freshie wrote:

Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Surely this has got to be a joke?

That was my initial reaction. Unless, as peter parker says, it's a marketing ploy?

Funny I thought NQD was referring to the your thread, not the news story which was already mentioned in Chinners Daily.

I don't know if this is true or not & it could be a wind up but Honda is one of the best strikers of a football in the world imo. Whether he's got what it takes to play his game in the Prem I don't know but I wouldn't be against finding out. No less a footballer than Charlie Adam & in much better physical shape imo. It would also be great for the profile of the club. Would pay for himself in merchandise sales I would think so no gamble involved. Lot of top clubs have thought about signing this bloke but not yet taken the plunge.

I'm all in favour of the occasional left of field signing, provided we bring in some top names too.

i would deffo take honda on board. my main reason being that others have said we could make loads of the guy in asia.

I reckon this Honda is a non-starter

Time to resurect Slims transfer bullshit thread again before we get two pages worth of this newsnow feed.

Japan's answers to Sun Jihai?

If City are looking to sign a Japanese player for commercial reasons, Honda is not the right one. He is respected here as a player but he is not particularly popular because he is seen as an arrogant bastard. Kagawa is the most popular Japanese player among the Japanese footballing public with Hasebe a good second. Those two are conincidentally the only two Japanese players anywhere near Premier League standard.

The Original Special One wrote:Japan's answers to Sun Jihai?

No. Not in any sense.

theboltonianblue wrote:i would deffo take honda on board. my main reason being that others have said we could make loads of the guy in asia.

The rest of Asia won't give a shit.

Tokyo Blue wrote:If City are looking to sign a Japanese player for commercial reasons, Honda is not the right one. He is respected here as a player but he is not particularly popular because he is seen as an arrogant bastard. Kagawa is the most popular Japanese player among the Japanese footballing public with Hasebe a good second. Those two are conincidentally the only two Japanese players anywhere near Premier League standard.

who's that tasty little midfielder for Dortmund? is that Kagawa? i love him. i think he'd have a shot at doing something fun with City.

cheers

DoomMerchant wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:If City are looking to sign a Japanese player for commercial reasons, Honda is not the right one. He is respected here as a player but he is not particularly popular because he is seen as an arrogant bastard. Kagawa is the most popular Japanese player among the Japanese footballing public with Hasebe a good second. Those two are conincidentally the only two Japanese players anywhere near Premier League standard.

who's that tasty little midfielder for Dortmund? is that Kagawa? i love him. i think he'd have a shot at doing something fun with City.

cheers

That's Kagawa, though he's been injured for about six months. Dortmund have already lost Sahin to Real and the vultures are circling around Gotze (the 18 year old who replaced Kagawa).

Sahin was a hell of a bargain at 8 million. Story sounds like a complete non-starter though.

Tokyo Blue wrote:

theboltonianblue wrote:i would deffo take honda on board. my main reason being that others have said we could make loads of the guy in asia.

The rest of Asia won't give a shit.

HAHA

That's like saying MLS sign Beckscum and everyone will be ecstatic in EUROPE.

Correct me if I'm wrong Tokyo but I've understood that the way to tap into Japanese markets is to actually sign some super top world class player (Messi or Tranaldo really). Japanese culture is probably one of the more complicated to understand for Europeans (again, correct me if I'm wrong but I've read loads about Japanese culture as their customs really intrigue me). They have tendency for adoring and being committed to individual players rather than Clubs.

DoomMerchant wrote:

Tokyo Blue wrote:If City are looking to sign a Japanese player for commercial reasons, Honda is not the right one. He is respected here as a player but he is not particularly popular because he is seen as an arrogant bastard. Kagawa is the most popular Japanese player among the Japanese footballing public with Hasebe a good second. Those two are conincidentally the only two Japanese players anywhere near Premier League standard.

who's that tasty little midfielder for Dortmund? is that Kagawa? i love him. i think he'd have a shot at doing something fun with City.

cheers

Triffic player. Been impressed with him every time I've seen him.

If the club are looking to bring in a player from Asia then he is the one.