MANCHESTER CITY are plotting a move to sign Alvaro Negredo.
The Sevilla marksman was on both Spurs’ and Everton’s radars, although the latter came closest to landing him in the January transfer window.
Manchester City could see an exodus of players leave the club in the summer, and though they have four top strikers on their books, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko have been linked with moves away from Eastlands.
And City want to firm up their summer shopping list early, so they can outmanoeuvre their rivals and challenge again for the Premier League title.
According to betting website, Ladbrokes, Roberto Mancini was mulling over a move for Negredo in January.
They also mention they could turn to Negredo if they find it too tough to land Luis Suarez or Edinson Cavani.
Negredo has been in flying form for Sevilla this season and has netted 10 times in La Liga.
Toure ready to help Manchester City’s title charge
Manchester City star Yaya Toure is ready to help the club retain their Premier League title.
The midfielder has been away from the Etihad Stadium for most of January and the start of February, helping the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
In his absence, the Sky Blues have slipped nine points behind local rivals Manchester United at the top of the table.
Now he is back, Toure has set his sights on helping City reel in the Red Devils, and believes that they are still in with a good chance of keeping the trophy:
“We are further behind than we’d like, of course, but all we need to do is think about last season to know what is possible.” He is quoted by Sky Sports.
“United have a strong squad and on paper, they have an easier run in than we do but the title race is a long way from finished. It only takes a couple of results to go our way and we’re right back in it – I’m sure we’ll come back.”
Toure, whose Africa Cup of Nations campaign ended with defeat at the hands of Nigeria, is also happy to be heading back to Manchester and wants to repay the faith shown in him by City’s supporters:
“I feel like I’m home again and I met some City fans before my flight from Paris to Manchester and they said ‘welcome home, Yaya’ and they said they wanted me to help the team and bring happiness to our supporters. That’s what I aim to do.”
Kolo Toure, who was also on international duty, is set to return as well
City expect fight for Cavani signature
Manchester City coach Angelo Gregucci feels the club will face stiff competition for Arsenal target Edinson Cavani.
The Uruguayan has been in blistering form for Napoli both domestically and in Europe, wityh his performances in front of goal catching the eye of a raft of teams.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is a confirmed admirer of Cavani, while City have also had a long-standing interest.
Napoli are determined to secure a huge fee for a player who has a £55 million buy-out clause and it would appear City will be an interested party in the summer.
"City will definitely have competition for Cavani, who is dominating the Italian league with his goals and sacrifices for the team and whose contract has a £55 million buy-out clause," Gregucci said. "Edinson is scoring a huge number of goals this season, and it will be difficult for City to take him.
"The 10 biggest clubs in Europe all have Cavani in their sights."
Aguero:Argentina are always dreaming of big things
The 24-year-old striker was pleased with the Albiceleste's performance in their win over Sweden and declared that the team are hopeful of reaching the greatest of heights
Sergio Aguero hopes Argentina can continue to play in the manner which saw them defeat Sweden 3-2 on Wednesday as they build towards World Cup 2014.
Alejandro Sabella's side played some wonderful attacking football and the Manchester City man declared his delight that the Albiceleste got off to a winning start in 2013.
"The most important thing was to win the first game of the year. We always dream of big things and hopefully we can continue like this," Aguero told Ole.
The 24-year-old netted a delightful lob to make it 2-1, just one minute after Jonas Olsson had cancelled out Gonzalo Higuain's opener and he admitted that he never had a second thought about lifting his shot over the keeper.
"As soon as the ball came to me, I thought of chipping it," he said.
Argentina face Venezuela and Bolivia late next month as they look to cement their place at the top of the South American World Cup qualification table.
Manchester City handed massive boost
Goal.com provides some welcome news about inspirational skipper Vincent Kompany.
The central defender has returned to training after a spell out with injury that has seen him miss the last two games. He has returned ahead of schedule and that is news that cannot come soon enough for Roberto Mancini who has been watching despairingly from the sidelines as his team struggle to keep pace with league leaders Manchester United.
Despite desperately wanting to retain their title, City are still looking up to United who are nine points ahead of them and after Kompany missed the Liverpool and QPR draws, it is looking more and more remote. Whilst he does have an issue with calf injuries, Kompany is also known for returning in a quicker period than expected and even has ‘an outside chance’ of making the game against Southampton on the weekend.
Only five days ago, BBC Sport claimed that the 26-year-old could face three more weeks out and with Mancini knowing that his skipper – who was so pivotal in the title winning side last season – could be set to return, it will be a massive boost for the Italian. Mancini has recently witnessed fellow countryman Mario Balotelli return to Italy with AC Milan where he has started like a house on fire.
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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is wanted by former club Zenit St Petersburg. The Russian transfer window is open until 24 February and Zenit are keen to re-sign the Slovakia centre-back, 28, who they sold to the Reds in 2008. DSSC
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has raised doubts about his future at Anfield. The Uruguayan, 26, said: "We will see at the end of the season what Liverpool's position is - we're not the Liverpool of old." Daily Mirror
But Suarez has also said that hearing the Liverpool fans sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' makes him want to stay at Anfield for years to come. Sun
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is facing competition from Bayern Munich for Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski, 24. Sun
Corinthians midfielder Paulinho, 24, who has been linked with Chelsea as well as Inter Milan, will move to Europe this summer, according to agent Kia Joorabchian. talkSHIT
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could return for Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue after failing with a move for the France international, 25, in January. Daily Telegraph
Chelsea could meet the £5m buy-out clause for Santos youngster Neilton, 19. The Brazilian teenager has been described as the "new Neymar". Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace are interested in taking West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie on loan. The Nigerian, 31, attempted to force through a move to QPR on transfer deadline day. Daily Telegraph
Wigan midfielder James McCarthy has refused to rule out leaving the DW Stadium in the summer. Republic of Ireland international McCarthy, 22, joined the Latics in 2009 and has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool. DSSC
Ajax striker Viktor Fischer is set to disappoint Manchester United and Chelsea by signing a new contract with the Amsterdam club. The Denmark international, 18, had only made two Eredivisie appearances before playing in Ajax's 2-2 Champions League draw with Manchester City in October. Sky Sports
Vukasin Poleksic, the Montenegrin goalkeeper, 30, banned for two years for failing to report a phone call from a criminal gang asking him to help fix Debrecen's Champions League matches against Liverpool and Fiorentina in 2009, has revealed he could have joined Portsmouth in 2007. "It was a mistake because I got this punishment. Maybe, if I had gone there, who knows?" he said. Daily Telegraph
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho angrily accused his players of concentrating on next week's Champions League tie with Manchester United after a 1-0 defeat at Granada. With rivals Barcelona winning, Madrid are now 16 points behind the La Liga leaders. Marca
Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed concerns about his ankle problem ahead of next week's last-16 clash with United and, after celebrating his 28th birthday on Tuesday, the Portuguese wants to emulate former team-mate Ryan Giggs, 39, by playing for another decade. AS
Ashley Cole may have won his 100th England cap in the 2-1 win over Brazil but it was left-back rival Leighton Baines, and not Cole, that featured on the front of the Wembley programme. DSSC
more later ...
