round-up
Mandzukic eyes move, Kompany deal and Toure future
Europe's top clubs have been alerted to the availability to Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic.
The Blues are well stocked in the forward ranks but there have been talk of bids for Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko.
28-year-old Mandzukic told Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti: "I met with (Bayern chairman) Karl Heinz Rummenigge before the cup final and told him I wanted to leave the club.
"I've had a fantastic time at Bayern. It's a great club and I never thought I'd want to leave, and especially not at this point in time.
"But, let's be honest, I cannot play to my strengths under Guardiola's style - no matter how hard I try.
"I realised that after the 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg and, that being the case, it's best for all parties that we go our separate ways.
"Guardiola is an outstanding coach and I wish him and everyone else at the club all the best in the future.
"Bayern and the club's fans will remain the best and most emotional chapter in my career."
Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany is set to pen a new deal at City which will see him commit his career to the Blues, report Goal.com
And Yaya Toure's unsettled situation at City is the result of not being offered a new deal, report the Daily Star
Man City are 13/8 with William Hill to win the title next season
Manchester City set to complete £14.5m Fernando transfer and Bacary Sagna signing
Manchester City hope to tie up £14.5m deal for Fernando this week
Premier League winners also expected to confirm Bacary Sagna signing
City still interested in Eliaquim Mangala
Manchester City will complete a £14.5million deal for FC Porto’s defensive midfielder Fernando this week.
[/img] City are also expected to confirm the signing of France right-back Bacary Sagna once his contract at Arsenal officially expires.
The 26-year-old Fernando was the subject of a failed bid by City in January and subsequently signed a new contract.
On the list: Porto's Eliaquim Mangala (left) is also a target for the Premier League champions
City maintain an interest in his team-mate Eliaquim Mangala but he wants to wait until after the World Cup before determining his future.
City’s other target Roma centre-back Mehdi Benatia has been priced at £50m by his coach Rudi Garcia but City expect Benatia to push for a move.
Manuel Pellegrini is keen to add to his squad over the summer as City look to defend their Premier League title.
Manchester City switch targets after conceding transfer defeat
Manchester City fans in the Football Transfer have been expecting to see numerous top-class players come through the Etihad Stadium doors this summer.
And they may soon get their wish with the Daily Star reporting that the Citizens are to launch a £25 million bid for Real Madrid defender Pepe.
Manuel Pellegrini has accepted defeat in his pursuit for Porto’s £35 million-rated defender Eliaquim Mangala and sees Pepe as the next best thing.
The Chilean tactician is looking for a reliable partner for Vincent Kompany in the heart of defence as he looks to improve on their defensive versatility.
He had also been linked with a move for Roma defender Mehdi Benatia but the Italian club’s valuation of £50 million has been laughed off by both Manchester City and also Tottenham Hotspur who also enquired.
Pellegrini now has Pepe in his sights and will offer the Portuguese international a first team place – something Real Madrid may not be able to offer with Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos impressing as a partnership of late.
Atletico Madrid consider moves for Man City’s Alvaro Negredo or Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku
Spanish daily El Confidential dedicate an article to Atletico Madrid’s potential strike-force next season on Tuesday, on the understanding the Diego Costa will leave to club to join Chelsea imminently.
Atletico, who won La Liga last season as well as finishing the season as runners-up in the Champions League, are facing a total rebuilding process up-front as Costa’s departure is coupled with David Villa leaving the club to join New York City FC.
With Tottenham’s Roberto Soldado and FC Porto’s Jackson Martinez name-dropped as two possible targets, El Confidential report that the Rojiblancos have the names of Man City’s Alvaro Negredo and Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku at the top of their shopping list.
Alvaro Negredo’s potential departure from Man City is bigged up the striker is portrayed as the back-up forward to Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko as the Etihad. Moreover, the forward was said to have been close to a move to the Vicente Calderon last summer.
Whether El Confidential’s assessment of City’s strikers is accurate is open to debate.
As for Lukaku, the 21-year-old is widely considered to be outside Jose Mourinho’s thoughts at Chelsea, and the forward is thought to be up for loan, if not available on a permanent transfer too.
Overall, El Confidential conclude that ”the arrival of two frontmen is needed [at Atletico], and considering all the variables on all the various options today, Negredo and Lukaku are the top targets”.
Kompany set for contract to end career at Manchester City
The Premier League champions' captain is seen as a potential future executive at the club and he is close to signing a new five-year deal to keep him at the Etihad Stadium
Vincent Kompany is set to sign a new contract that will keep him at Manchester City for the remainder of his career.
The Belgian defender is currently contracted until 2017 but the Premier League champions have proposed an extension that will now run until 2019, which would take the City skipper up to the age of 33.
Kompany earns around £140,000 a week and has previously been a top target for Barcelona.
The player has already indicated that he is happy to stay and the club's top brass see him as a possible future executive at the end of his playing days.
Kompany played 28 games for Manuel Pellegrini's side in 2013-14 as they recaptured the Premier League title.
City are currently reviewing a number of deals.
Frank Lampard ‘tempted’ by Manchester City/New York City’s offer of MLS & A-League stints
Having ended his 13 year affair with Chelsea, Frank Lampard is now pondering where to next for the twilight stage of his career.
Manchester City have offered Lampard to become the second member of their MLS franchise New York City, after they recruited David Villa last week.
The Daily Mail claim that Lampard has been ‘tempted’ by this offer, as it would offer him a stint in the A-League with Melbourne City, which Man City also part-own.
Lampard would then join the nascent MLS franchise in February 2015, when the MLS season recommences.
With the World Cup to first focus on, time is on Lampard’s side to make a decision.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Arsenal and QPR are interested in signing 29-year-old ex-Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong, who is currently at AC Milan. Sun Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is confident his club team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will overcome injury to play a key role for England at the World Cup. Goal.com
England will give Italy far more to worry about than they did in their defeat at Euro 2012, according to manager Roy Hodgson, who says his side must spend more time attacking. Daily Mirror
Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo was a star performer when his country knocked England out of Euro 2012 on penalties but Hodgson says he has a plan to combat the threat of the 35-year-old when the two teams meet again on Saturday. Independent
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says England striker Wayne Rooney, 28, is at the right stage of his career to have an impressive World Cup. Sun
England's Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana, 26, is not content with simply being a squad member at the World Cup and says he is inspired by the surroundings international football provides. Guardian
Ross Barkley was sarcastically applauded by his team-mates after the 20-year-old Everton midfielder was 15 minutes late for England's bus to training on Monday. Daily Telegraph
There are safety concerns over the Arena De Sao Paulo, which will host the opening game of the World Cup between Brazil and Croatia on Thursday, as it has yet to be tested close to its full capacity. The Times
Arsenal look set to miss out on Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas, 33, after his partner claimed she will not leave the Spanish capital. Daily Express
But the Gunners could still sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata and are prepared to battle with Tottenham and Inter Milan for the 21-year-old's signature. DSSC
Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with long-standing Manchester United target Marco Reus, 25, and will present an opening offer of £28m to Borussia Dortmund for the forward. Talkshit
Meanwhile, United are prepared to accept as little as £12m for midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 26, who they signed for £27.5m from Everton a little over a year ago. Daily Star
Chelsea are attempting to sign midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona in a deal that would ensure his former club - Arsenal - do not receive half of the Catalan side's profit on the player. Daily Telegraph
Goalkeeper Pepe Reina will return to Liverpool as Italian club Napoli cannot meet the Reds' demands to make the 31-year-old's recent loan move permanent. Metro
Everton are hopeful they will hold off competition from Arsenal to land 33-year-old striker Samuel Eto'o from Chelsea. Daily Express
Liverpool's 20-year-old forward Suso will move to Porto and be reunited with his former international youth coach Julen Lopetegui, who manages the Portuguese side. Talkshit
Mauricio Pochettino will make Napoli midfielder Blerim Dzemaili his first signing as Tottenham manager. The 28-year-old is currently at the World Cup with Switzerland. Daily Star
Sunderland have made a £4m bid for Swansea centre-back Ashley Williams, 29, whose contract with the Welsh club expires next summer. Times
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says he came close to managing England in 2008 after the sacking of Steve McClaren, but his wife talked him out of the move. Daily Telegraph
Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal, who will take over as Manchester United manager after the World Cup, could keep Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes as part of the Old Trafford club's coaching staff. Guardian
A football-crazy artist has created some of the World Cup's most striking moments using Subbuteo figures. David Beckham's 1998 red card, Maradona's 1986 "hand of God" goal, and Terry Butcher being bloodied in an 1989 qualifier are all featured. Daily Mirror
GOLDEN BOLLOX 10-6-2010
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is planning for life without England midfielder James Milner, who has been linked to Manchester City, and has launched an £8m bid for Mbark Boussoufa of Anderlecht. Daily Mirror
Inter Milan hope a combined bid of £33m will be enough to persuade Liverpool to sell Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano and Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt. DSSC
Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov has branded Barca's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic a "failure" and insists he will end up at Manchester City. Daily Mirror
Bolton defender Andy O'Brien is wanted by Championship newcomers Leeds.The Sun
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has put a £15m price tag on Arsenal and Aston Villa target Hugo Rodallega. DSSC
Wolfsburg manager Steve McClaren has entered the race to sign Michael Ballack after the Germany midfielder was released by Chelsea. DSSC
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has confirmed the Gunners are interested in signing Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and has hinted defender William Gallas will leave the club after failing to get the two-year contract he wanted. Daily Star
Benfica midfielder Angel di Maria is closing in on a transfer to Real Madrid after telling the Portuguese club he is reluctant to move to England. DSSC
New Celtic manager Neil Lennon says he would like to speak to Robbie Keane again after the Tottenham striker's successful loan spell at the Scottish club last season and also said Sol Campbell, who finished the season at Arsenal, had "shown interest" in joining but there was still "a bit of work" to do. (Daily Record)
Fulham hope to see off late interest from Birmingham and West Ham to sign Standard Liege's Congo international striker Dieumerci Mbokani for £8m.Daily Mail
Newly promoted Blackpool are weighing up Portsmouth forward Danny Webber, Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, and Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle, who began his career at Bloomfield Road. (Times)
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