Thursday's B*l**x (Updated)
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:09 amManchester United and Manchester City split by proposals on Premier League financial controls
Manchester United and Manchester City are on opposite sides of a new divide in the Premier League: whether the competition should introduce its own Uefa-style financial fair play regulations.
At the League’s annual meeting the idea of tighter financial controls being imposed on clubs was advanced by Liverpool. It gained the support of a number of their rivals, including United’s chief executive, David Gill, who had previously helped shape Uefa’s ground-breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
The delegation from Arsenal is believed to have spoken up in favour. The club’s owner, Stan Kroenke is, like Liverpool’s John W Henry and United’s Glazer family, familiar with restrictive financial regulations through the US sports franchises they own. West Ham United’s joint chairman David Gold also gave his approval.
Gold told The Daily Telegraph: “I was involved in bringing in the FFP rules in the Championship and at the time I thought should I get to the Premier League, I’ll lobby for it. I made it abundantly clear we shouldn’t be doing nothing. David Gill was marvellous. He made lots of sense. Even the big clubs now are saying we have to get to grips with costs.”
But the subject was not unanimously supported. Manchester City, whose owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan , subsidised spending with £43.3million in cash between June 1, 2009, and the end of May 2011, are believed to have cautioned that they would prefer to manage their business as they see fit.
Fulham, whose rise through the leagues was financed by ‘soft’ loans from the chairman, Mohamed Fayed, have also historically expressed the view that they would not endorse a system that “kills the dreams” of others. However, this time they did not push back against Liverpool’s proposal.
It all meant the Premier League executive staff have been tasked with drawing up a report on what proposals could be introduced. One option would be to adopt wholesale the Uefa FFP regulations.
Both Chelsea and United were instrumental in developing these, which require clubs to break even within a margin of “acceptable deviation” of €45 million (£35.5 million) over the first two years of their formal implementation – next season and the following.
Chelsea and United are confident of meeting Uefa’s rules despite their inclusion not just of cash expenditure but accounting charges relating to historical spending under “amortisation”. However, City will find that particularly challenging.
Their Premier League champions’ operating loss in the 2010-11 season alone – the most recent for which accounts are available – was £194.9 million. Even though some areas of this spending will be discounted as allowable, the discounts are unlikely to bring operating losses under FFP to within the £35.5 million cushion over two years.
David Gill, Manchester United’s chief executive, has told Parliament: “We were involved through the European Club Association, as were other clubs, such as Chelsea, who were on the working group to develop those proposals with Uefa.
“It made sense and was for the benefit of football clubs could operate within their own resources and it would bring about a limiting effect on player cost, in terms of transfers and wages.
“We are comfortable with it. The critical issue will be around implementation and the sanctions around that, and making sure that it is appropriately applied. But I do not think anyone can criticise the objective of ensuring that clubs operate within their own resources.”
How to guarantee compliance would be one of the biggest challenges of a new Premier League regulatory regime and this month Henry expressed his concerns about Uefa’s will to impose its own FFP regulations. But that view contrasts with recent Uefa actions.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld Uefa’s expulsion under financial fair play rules of Besiktas. The Turkish club will be banned from the next two European competitions for which it qualifies over the next five years.
The English top flight is the only league in the country not to have its own cost-restraint framework. Leagues One and Two have both implemented salary capping while the Championship has introduced a financial fair play system for this season based on the Uefa model. Championship clubs flouting Football League rules will be hit with a transfer embargo. Telegrapgh
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43786
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini tells of relief over extent of Sergio Aguero injury
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was able to breathe a sigh of relief this morning after learning Sergio Aguero's knee injury is not as bad as first feared.
The Barclays Premier League champions confirmed yesterday that the Argentinian striker was expected back in under a month following the knee injury he suffered against Southampton on Sunday.
There had been worries Aguero had suffered major ligament damage when he fell awkwardly early in the 3-2 season-opening win.
But a scan detected no major damage, and City are optimistic the 24-year-old will be back in contention for the trip to Stoke on September 15.
"I don't think Sergio will be out for long and we are hoping he will be back after the international break which is obviously fantastic news for him and for us," Mancini told the club's website.
"We were very worried a couple of days ago because we feared he could be out for six months or maybe even more which would have been very bad news."
Aguero scored 23 Barclays Premier League goals for City last season including the dramatic injury-time winner against QPR to snatch the title away from rivals United on the closing day.
He was carried off 14 minutes into Sunday's match after falling under a fair challenge from Nathaniel Clyne.
Later that night, Aguero sought to ease fears by saying the injury was not as bad as it had appeared, although no further announcement had been made by the club regarding his condition until yesterday.
Mancini said: "It looked like a very strange injury at the time and because it was his knee, we were obviously very concerned so this news is a relief for everybody."
There was further positive news for City on the injury front yesterday, with both Gareth Barry and Micah Richards ahead of schedule as they aim to return to first-team activity.
Barry suffered an abdominal injury that ruled him out of England's Euro 2012 plans, but he is back in training and working to catch up after missing the pre-season, while Richards is making progress after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Team GB at the Olympics. INDEPENDENT
Blues no to City’s £30m Luiz bid
CHELSEA have rejected Manchester City’s £30million bid for David Luiz.
City boss Roberto Mancini needs defensive cover with Micah Richards crocked for 10 weeks.
Luiz was axed from last night’s win over Reading while Chelsea and City tried to thrash out a deal — though the Brazilian centre-back claimed on Twitter he has a knee injury.
Chelsea were angered by the Tweet and Luiz has been fined.
Boss Roberto Di Matteo said: “This social media thing is all around us now. We’ll deal with it internally.”
But Luiz is still a big part of boss Roberto Di Matteo’s plans and City will need to significantly up their offer to prise him away.
Flamboyant Luiz, 25, arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £21m deal from Benfica in January 2011 and became an instant hit with the fans. Sun
AC Milan leapfrog Inter in race for Manchester City midfielder De Jong
The Netherlands international is refusing to sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium ahead of his contract expiring next summer and has been targeted by the Italian rivals
AC Milan have stolen a march on their city rivals Inter in the race to sign £8 million-rated Nigel de Jong from Manchester City.
Goal.com understands that talks over a move are at an advanced stage with the Dutchman, who is refusing to sign a new deal with the Premier League champions.
MAN CITY ON TOP?
11/8 Manchester City are 11/8 to beat Liverpool in the Premier League with William Hill
The Netherlands international is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium and has been targeted by Inter as they look to bolster their midfield options after a disappointing sixth-placed finish in Serie A last season.
However, AC Milan are the new favourites to secure the 27-year-old's signature before the transfer window closes in nine days' time.
De Jong, who joined City from Hamburg for £18m in January 2009, has only one year remaining on his contract in Manchester and is keen to move on after losing his starting place to Gareth Barry last term, while the signing of Jack Rodwell from Everton last month is likely to lessen his first-team opportunities.
Roberto Mancini has been keen to strengthen his central midfield during this transfer window but missed out on long-term target Daniel De Rossi after the Roma man rejected City's advances, as was exclusively revealed by Goal.com on Monday.
City's failure to secure De Rossi's signature will have no impact on De Jong's future at the club however, with Mancini ready to cash in on the Netherlands international regardless.
SNUB COUNT BOLLOX: 449
Manchester City transfer window special: Who will stay and who will go?
M.E.N. Sport’s Rob Dawson looks at the candidates and assesses their chances of waving goodbye to the Etihad Stadium before the transfer window shuts.
1. Kolo Toure
The Ivorian lost his place after he was hit with a suspension for testing positive for a banned substance last year and never won it back. Joleon Lescott took over for the second half of the 2010/11 season and has nailed down his place next to Kompany in the heart of defence. The 31-year-old didn’t make the bench for the first game of the season against Southampton and has been linked with a move to Anzhi Makhachkala.
Heading for the exit? 60 per cent
2. Wayne Bridge
A symbol of times past. When Mark Hughes won the Abu Dhabi lottery in 2008 he spent the money like a giddy lottery winner as well. Out went big transfers fees and in came players on big wages. When the former England left-back fell out of favour with Mancini, no one was willing to take on his £90,000-a-week wages. Since last playing for City in the Premier League in December 2010, he’s spent time on loan at West Ham and Sunderland and the club have agreed to subsidise his wages to facilitate a loan move to Brighton this season. There is light at the end of the tunnel with the four-and-a-half year deal he signed after joining from Chelsea due to expire next summer.
Heading for the exit? 100 per cent – but not until next summer.
3. Dedryck Boyata
The 21-year-old Belgian defender was a favourite of Mancini’s when he first came to the club. The Italian threw him in at the deep end in the two-legged Carling Cup semi-final with United in 2010 over more experienced heads like Nedum Onuoha. He made 17 appearances on loan at Bolton last season as they were relegated from the Premier League but he’s nowhere near a first-team recall at City with four centre-halves and two right-backs in front of him.
Heading for the exit? 80 per cent
4. Nigel de Jong
Only on the list because of his contract situation. With only 12 months left on his current deal, City are running the risk of losing a top international midfielder for free. Both De Jong and Mancini are saying all the right things about coming to an agreement but with each day that passes, speculation that Inter Milan will turn their interest into a firm bid is only going to intensify.
Heading for the exit? 50 per cent
5. John Guidetti
The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season on loan at Feyenoord, scoring 20 goals in 23 games in the Eredivisie and earning a call-up to the senior Sweden squad. It prompted some fans to call for Guidetti to be given a chance in the first team at City but the truth is there’s just no space with Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko all fighting for two places. He’s got time on his side and a loan move to a Premier League or Championship side would be ideal as the next stage of his development.
Heading for the exit? 30 per cent
6. Roque Santa Crock
Another one who’s in the departure lounge. The Paraguay striker gets on well with Mancini by all accounts but despite playing a part in pre-season, he isn’t part of the Italian’s first-team plans. Hasn’t played for City since November 2010 and has spent time on loan at Blackburn and Real Betis. Santa Cruz wants to stay in the north west but he’ll struggle to find anyone willing to pay him the £90,000-a-week he gets at City.
Heading for the exit? 90 per cent
7. Michael Johnson
Surplus to requirements. He hasn’t been helped by a succession of injuries but after bursting on to the scene under Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England Under-21 international has gone backwards. Only played seven times during a season-long loan at Leicester last season and hasn’t played for City since scoring in the 5-1 win over Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup in October 2009.
Heading for the exit? 80 per cent
8. Stefan Savic
The Montenegro centre-half was signed for £6m from Partizan Belgrade last summer but struggled when called upon to deputise for Kompany or Lescott, particularly in both legs of the Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool. He’s already won 14 international caps but at 21 years old he isn’t ready to be a regular at City. A loan move would suit both parties if Mancini can find some cover at centre-half before the window shuts.
Heading for the exit? 30 per cent
9. Edin Dzeko
Not a guaranteed starter but the big Bosnian is firmly in Mancini’s thoughts, especially after two vital equalisers in his last two Premier League games. But that doesn’t disguise the fact that he’s not hit the heights expected of a £27m striker and if someone came in with a substantial offer Mancini would have to consider it, provided he has time to find a replacement. The 26-year-old has been linked with Milan, who lost Alexandre Pato to injury yesterday.
Heading for the exit? 10 per cent
10. Gunnar Nielsen
The 25-year-old Faroe Islands international was released at the end of the last season, only to earn a reprieve and a new one-year deal when Stuart Taylor signed for Reading. His last appearance for the first team was as a 76th-minute substitute during the goalless draw at Arsenal in April 2010, coming on for the injured Shay Given. Already loaned out to Wrexham and Tranmere during his time at City, another short-term move could be on the cards, although a permanent switch this summer now looks unlikely.
Heading for the exit? 20 per cent
11. Adam Johnson
His talent isn’t in question but his place in the City squad is. His predicament was summed up during the first week of the season. An unused substitute for the Community Shield, he played 90 minutes for England against Italy on Wednesday then didn’t make the 18-man squad for City’s opening game of the season. Mancini says the 25-year-old is desperate for first-team football and he’s willing to let him move on to find it. Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton and Sunderland will all fancy their chances of landing him before the window shuts, but more than likely on loan.
Heading for the exit? 60 per cent
C*NTS CORNER - Part 3
Borussia Dortmund confirm the club have rejected a number of offers for striker Robert Lewandowski, 24, amid speculation of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. Metro
Liverpool owner John W Henry is willing to oversee the sale of two midfielders - Charlie Adam and Jay Spearing - to fund a substantial offer for Fulham's 29-year-old American international Clint Dempsey. Daily Mirror
Newcastle want former striker Andy Carroll, 23, on loan for the rest of the season from Liverpool with a view to a permanent £12m deal, but Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is reluctant to accept such an offer. Guardian
Former Arsenal striker Eduardo, 29, says he has no knowledge of a rumoured £7m Fulham bid, but admits he would consider quitting his current club Shakhtar Donetsk for another chance of Premier League football. Independent
West Ham and Sunderland are competing to sign West Brom's Peter Odemwingie. Daily Mirror
Tottenham have been told to up their bid for Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris, 25, after having a offer for the France international turned down by the Ligue 1 side earlier in the summer. Daily Star
Spurs have already increased their offer for another player - Andre Villas-Boas wants 23-year-old Internacional striker Leandro Damiao to link up with new boy Emmanuel Adebayor. Daily Telegraph
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says he is willing to loan 23-year-old Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin to an English club, but he "couldn't care less if he goes to Arsenal or Liverpool or Tottenham. I have no preference." Guardian
Mourinho also denies that Kaka is set for a move to Manchester United, after reports the 30-year-old will be loaned out to accommodate possible incoming midfielders such as Tottenham winger Luka Modric. Daily Express
With just a year left on winger Theo Walcott's contract, Arsenal are focusing their attention on acquiring Sevilla star Jesus Navas. The 26-year-old Spanish international has a £35m buy-out clause but his club are expected to accept a much lower offer. Daily Star
Players who have quit Arsenal over the last seven years have amassed 44 winners' medals between them at 11 different clubs, while those who stayed at the Emirates have empty trophy cabinets. the Sun
A hacker is being blamed for breaking into Real Madrid's club website and creating a profile page for Croatia international Luka Modric. The 26-year-old is being heavily linked with a transfer tothe Bernabeu but remains a Tottenham player. Metro
more bollox soon ...
Manchester United and Manchester City are on opposite sides of a new divide in the Premier League: whether the competition should introduce its own Uefa-style financial fair play regulations.
At the League’s annual meeting the idea of tighter financial controls being imposed on clubs was advanced by Liverpool. It gained the support of a number of their rivals, including United’s chief executive, David Gill, who had previously helped shape Uefa’s ground-breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
The delegation from Arsenal is believed to have spoken up in favour. The club’s owner, Stan Kroenke is, like Liverpool’s John W Henry and United’s Glazer family, familiar with restrictive financial regulations through the US sports franchises they own. West Ham United’s joint chairman David Gold also gave his approval.
Gold told The Daily Telegraph: “I was involved in bringing in the FFP rules in the Championship and at the time I thought should I get to the Premier League, I’ll lobby for it. I made it abundantly clear we shouldn’t be doing nothing. David Gill was marvellous. He made lots of sense. Even the big clubs now are saying we have to get to grips with costs.”
But the subject was not unanimously supported. Manchester City, whose owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan , subsidised spending with £43.3million in cash between June 1, 2009, and the end of May 2011, are believed to have cautioned that they would prefer to manage their business as they see fit.
Fulham, whose rise through the leagues was financed by ‘soft’ loans from the chairman, Mohamed Fayed, have also historically expressed the view that they would not endorse a system that “kills the dreams” of others. However, this time they did not push back against Liverpool’s proposal.
It all meant the Premier League executive staff have been tasked with drawing up a report on what proposals could be introduced. One option would be to adopt wholesale the Uefa FFP regulations.
Both Chelsea and United were instrumental in developing these, which require clubs to break even within a margin of “acceptable deviation” of €45 million (£35.5 million) over the first two years of their formal implementation – next season and the following.
Chelsea and United are confident of meeting Uefa’s rules despite their inclusion not just of cash expenditure but accounting charges relating to historical spending under “amortisation”. However, City will find that particularly challenging.
Their Premier League champions’ operating loss in the 2010-11 season alone – the most recent for which accounts are available – was £194.9 million. Even though some areas of this spending will be discounted as allowable, the discounts are unlikely to bring operating losses under FFP to within the £35.5 million cushion over two years.
David Gill, Manchester United’s chief executive, has told Parliament: “We were involved through the European Club Association, as were other clubs, such as Chelsea, who were on the working group to develop those proposals with Uefa.
“It made sense and was for the benefit of football clubs could operate within their own resources and it would bring about a limiting effect on player cost, in terms of transfers and wages.
“We are comfortable with it. The critical issue will be around implementation and the sanctions around that, and making sure that it is appropriately applied. But I do not think anyone can criticise the objective of ensuring that clubs operate within their own resources.”
How to guarantee compliance would be one of the biggest challenges of a new Premier League regulatory regime and this month Henry expressed his concerns about Uefa’s will to impose its own FFP regulations. But that view contrasts with recent Uefa actions.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld Uefa’s expulsion under financial fair play rules of Besiktas. The Turkish club will be banned from the next two European competitions for which it qualifies over the next five years.
The English top flight is the only league in the country not to have its own cost-restraint framework. Leagues One and Two have both implemented salary capping while the Championship has introduced a financial fair play system for this season based on the Uefa model. Championship clubs flouting Football League rules will be hit with a transfer embargo. Telegrapgh
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=43786
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini tells of relief over extent of Sergio Aguero injury
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was able to breathe a sigh of relief this morning after learning Sergio Aguero's knee injury is not as bad as first feared.
The Barclays Premier League champions confirmed yesterday that the Argentinian striker was expected back in under a month following the knee injury he suffered against Southampton on Sunday.
There had been worries Aguero had suffered major ligament damage when he fell awkwardly early in the 3-2 season-opening win.
But a scan detected no major damage, and City are optimistic the 24-year-old will be back in contention for the trip to Stoke on September 15.
"I don't think Sergio will be out for long and we are hoping he will be back after the international break which is obviously fantastic news for him and for us," Mancini told the club's website.
"We were very worried a couple of days ago because we feared he could be out for six months or maybe even more which would have been very bad news."
Aguero scored 23 Barclays Premier League goals for City last season including the dramatic injury-time winner against QPR to snatch the title away from rivals United on the closing day.
He was carried off 14 minutes into Sunday's match after falling under a fair challenge from Nathaniel Clyne.
Later that night, Aguero sought to ease fears by saying the injury was not as bad as it had appeared, although no further announcement had been made by the club regarding his condition until yesterday.
Mancini said: "It looked like a very strange injury at the time and because it was his knee, we were obviously very concerned so this news is a relief for everybody."
There was further positive news for City on the injury front yesterday, with both Gareth Barry and Micah Richards ahead of schedule as they aim to return to first-team activity.
Barry suffered an abdominal injury that ruled him out of England's Euro 2012 plans, but he is back in training and working to catch up after missing the pre-season, while Richards is making progress after suffering an ankle injury while playing for Team GB at the Olympics. INDEPENDENT
Blues no to City’s £30m Luiz bid
CHELSEA have rejected Manchester City’s £30million bid for David Luiz.
City boss Roberto Mancini needs defensive cover with Micah Richards crocked for 10 weeks.
Luiz was axed from last night’s win over Reading while Chelsea and City tried to thrash out a deal — though the Brazilian centre-back claimed on Twitter he has a knee injury.
Chelsea were angered by the Tweet and Luiz has been fined.
Boss Roberto Di Matteo said: “This social media thing is all around us now. We’ll deal with it internally.”
But Luiz is still a big part of boss Roberto Di Matteo’s plans and City will need to significantly up their offer to prise him away.
Flamboyant Luiz, 25, arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £21m deal from Benfica in January 2011 and became an instant hit with the fans. Sun
AC Milan leapfrog Inter in race for Manchester City midfielder De Jong
The Netherlands international is refusing to sign a new deal at the Etihad Stadium ahead of his contract expiring next summer and has been targeted by the Italian rivals
AC Milan have stolen a march on their city rivals Inter in the race to sign £8 million-rated Nigel de Jong from Manchester City.
Goal.com understands that talks over a move are at an advanced stage with the Dutchman, who is refusing to sign a new deal with the Premier League champions.
MAN CITY ON TOP?
11/8 Manchester City are 11/8 to beat Liverpool in the Premier League with William Hill
The Netherlands international is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium and has been targeted by Inter as they look to bolster their midfield options after a disappointing sixth-placed finish in Serie A last season.
However, AC Milan are the new favourites to secure the 27-year-old's signature before the transfer window closes in nine days' time.
De Jong, who joined City from Hamburg for £18m in January 2009, has only one year remaining on his contract in Manchester and is keen to move on after losing his starting place to Gareth Barry last term, while the signing of Jack Rodwell from Everton last month is likely to lessen his first-team opportunities.
Roberto Mancini has been keen to strengthen his central midfield during this transfer window but missed out on long-term target Daniel De Rossi after the Roma man rejected City's advances, as was exclusively revealed by Goal.com on Monday.
City's failure to secure De Rossi's signature will have no impact on De Jong's future at the club however, with Mancini ready to cash in on the Netherlands international regardless.
SNUB COUNT BOLLOX: 449
Manchester City transfer window special: Who will stay and who will go?
M.E.N. Sport’s Rob Dawson looks at the candidates and assesses their chances of waving goodbye to the Etihad Stadium before the transfer window shuts.
1. Kolo Toure
The Ivorian lost his place after he was hit with a suspension for testing positive for a banned substance last year and never won it back. Joleon Lescott took over for the second half of the 2010/11 season and has nailed down his place next to Kompany in the heart of defence. The 31-year-old didn’t make the bench for the first game of the season against Southampton and has been linked with a move to Anzhi Makhachkala.
Heading for the exit? 60 per cent
2. Wayne Bridge
A symbol of times past. When Mark Hughes won the Abu Dhabi lottery in 2008 he spent the money like a giddy lottery winner as well. Out went big transfers fees and in came players on big wages. When the former England left-back fell out of favour with Mancini, no one was willing to take on his £90,000-a-week wages. Since last playing for City in the Premier League in December 2010, he’s spent time on loan at West Ham and Sunderland and the club have agreed to subsidise his wages to facilitate a loan move to Brighton this season. There is light at the end of the tunnel with the four-and-a-half year deal he signed after joining from Chelsea due to expire next summer.
Heading for the exit? 100 per cent – but not until next summer.
3. Dedryck Boyata
The 21-year-old Belgian defender was a favourite of Mancini’s when he first came to the club. The Italian threw him in at the deep end in the two-legged Carling Cup semi-final with United in 2010 over more experienced heads like Nedum Onuoha. He made 17 appearances on loan at Bolton last season as they were relegated from the Premier League but he’s nowhere near a first-team recall at City with four centre-halves and two right-backs in front of him.
Heading for the exit? 80 per cent
4. Nigel de Jong
Only on the list because of his contract situation. With only 12 months left on his current deal, City are running the risk of losing a top international midfielder for free. Both De Jong and Mancini are saying all the right things about coming to an agreement but with each day that passes, speculation that Inter Milan will turn their interest into a firm bid is only going to intensify.
Heading for the exit? 50 per cent
5. John Guidetti
The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season on loan at Feyenoord, scoring 20 goals in 23 games in the Eredivisie and earning a call-up to the senior Sweden squad. It prompted some fans to call for Guidetti to be given a chance in the first team at City but the truth is there’s just no space with Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko all fighting for two places. He’s got time on his side and a loan move to a Premier League or Championship side would be ideal as the next stage of his development.
Heading for the exit? 30 per cent
6. Roque Santa Crock
Another one who’s in the departure lounge. The Paraguay striker gets on well with Mancini by all accounts but despite playing a part in pre-season, he isn’t part of the Italian’s first-team plans. Hasn’t played for City since November 2010 and has spent time on loan at Blackburn and Real Betis. Santa Cruz wants to stay in the north west but he’ll struggle to find anyone willing to pay him the £90,000-a-week he gets at City.
Heading for the exit? 90 per cent
7. Michael Johnson
Surplus to requirements. He hasn’t been helped by a succession of injuries but after bursting on to the scene under Sven-Goran Eriksson, the former England Under-21 international has gone backwards. Only played seven times during a season-long loan at Leicester last season and hasn’t played for City since scoring in the 5-1 win over Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup in October 2009.
Heading for the exit? 80 per cent
8. Stefan Savic
The Montenegro centre-half was signed for £6m from Partizan Belgrade last summer but struggled when called upon to deputise for Kompany or Lescott, particularly in both legs of the Carling Cup semi-final against Liverpool. He’s already won 14 international caps but at 21 years old he isn’t ready to be a regular at City. A loan move would suit both parties if Mancini can find some cover at centre-half before the window shuts.
Heading for the exit? 30 per cent
9. Edin Dzeko
Not a guaranteed starter but the big Bosnian is firmly in Mancini’s thoughts, especially after two vital equalisers in his last two Premier League games. But that doesn’t disguise the fact that he’s not hit the heights expected of a £27m striker and if someone came in with a substantial offer Mancini would have to consider it, provided he has time to find a replacement. The 26-year-old has been linked with Milan, who lost Alexandre Pato to injury yesterday.
Heading for the exit? 10 per cent
10. Gunnar Nielsen
The 25-year-old Faroe Islands international was released at the end of the last season, only to earn a reprieve and a new one-year deal when Stuart Taylor signed for Reading. His last appearance for the first team was as a 76th-minute substitute during the goalless draw at Arsenal in April 2010, coming on for the injured Shay Given. Already loaned out to Wrexham and Tranmere during his time at City, another short-term move could be on the cards, although a permanent switch this summer now looks unlikely.
Heading for the exit? 20 per cent
11. Adam Johnson
His talent isn’t in question but his place in the City squad is. His predicament was summed up during the first week of the season. An unused substitute for the Community Shield, he played 90 minutes for England against Italy on Wednesday then didn’t make the 18-man squad for City’s opening game of the season. Mancini says the 25-year-old is desperate for first-team football and he’s willing to let him move on to find it. Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton and Sunderland will all fancy their chances of landing him before the window shuts, but more than likely on loan.
Heading for the exit? 60 per cent
C*NTS CORNER - Part 3
Borussia Dortmund confirm the club have rejected a number of offers for striker Robert Lewandowski, 24, amid speculation of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea. Metro
Liverpool owner John W Henry is willing to oversee the sale of two midfielders - Charlie Adam and Jay Spearing - to fund a substantial offer for Fulham's 29-year-old American international Clint Dempsey. Daily Mirror
Newcastle want former striker Andy Carroll, 23, on loan for the rest of the season from Liverpool with a view to a permanent £12m deal, but Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is reluctant to accept such an offer. Guardian
Former Arsenal striker Eduardo, 29, says he has no knowledge of a rumoured £7m Fulham bid, but admits he would consider quitting his current club Shakhtar Donetsk for another chance of Premier League football. Independent
West Ham and Sunderland are competing to sign West Brom's Peter Odemwingie. Daily Mirror
Tottenham have been told to up their bid for Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris, 25, after having a offer for the France international turned down by the Ligue 1 side earlier in the summer. Daily Star
Spurs have already increased their offer for another player - Andre Villas-Boas wants 23-year-old Internacional striker Leandro Damiao to link up with new boy Emmanuel Adebayor. Daily Telegraph
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho says he is willing to loan 23-year-old Turkish midfielder Nuri Sahin to an English club, but he "couldn't care less if he goes to Arsenal or Liverpool or Tottenham. I have no preference." Guardian
Mourinho also denies that Kaka is set for a move to Manchester United, after reports the 30-year-old will be loaned out to accommodate possible incoming midfielders such as Tottenham winger Luka Modric. Daily Express
With just a year left on winger Theo Walcott's contract, Arsenal are focusing their attention on acquiring Sevilla star Jesus Navas. The 26-year-old Spanish international has a £35m buy-out clause but his club are expected to accept a much lower offer. Daily Star
Players who have quit Arsenal over the last seven years have amassed 44 winners' medals between them at 11 different clubs, while those who stayed at the Emirates have empty trophy cabinets. the Sun
A hacker is being blamed for breaking into Real Madrid's club website and creating a profile page for Croatia international Luka Modric. The 26-year-old is being heavily linked with a transfer tothe Bernabeu but remains a Tottenham player. Metro
more bollox soon ...