City and Liverpool are to execute some serious transfer business this summer, according to the nation's media outlets.
In today's reports, it's suggested two Blues and one Red will be making a move along the M62 - so who are the players in question
Well, the day's top story derives from the Guardian, who assert City are ready to pounce, amongst speculation on alleged target Raheem Sterling's future.
Andy Hunter writes: "Sterling is expected to inform Liverpool this week that he wishes to leave the club, with Manchester City ready to test Anfield’s resolve that the England international will not be sold.
"The 20-year-old has put City – and other clubs – on alert that he will agitate for a move from Liverpool after requesting fresh talks on his future with Anfield officials before the end of the Premier League season on Sunday.
"Liverpool have been in discussions over a new deal since October but remain at deadlock over an agreement and their failure to secure a top-four finish represents a major setback to their hopes of convincing Sterling to stay.
"Liverpool do have him on a £35,000-a-week contract until 2017 and Rodgers has made it clear that he and the club’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, are minded not to sell even in the event of the impasse continuing beyond this summer."
Meanwhile, according to the Mirror, James Milner is set to move the other way.
David McDonnell states: "Milner has long been coveted by Liverpool, who are bracing themselves for the summer loss of captain Steven Gerrard, and will pay him around £100,000 per week as well as crucially offering him his preferred central midfield role.
"Arsenal have also been keen, and both they and Liverpool can pay Milner a huge signing-on fee as a free agent, with City increasingly resigned to losing the versatile midfielder, who joined them in 2010 from Aston Villa.
"City, who have been negotiating with Milner and his agent for the past year, have improved their contract offer and feel they have done all they can to make the player stay.
"Despite that, City feel Milner has decided his future lies away from the Etihad Stadium, with one game left this season and the contract on the table still not signed."
In other news, the DSSC Simon Jones claims the Merseysiders are also showing an interest in Edin Dzeko.
Apparently: "Brendan Rodgers wants another top striker despite already signing Divock Origi from Lille and making an offer to Burnley's Danny Ings.
"Dzeko, who is also drawing attention from Chelsea, has three years left on contract so would command a fee of around £25million.
"Liverpool are looking to offload Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini to help boost their transfer budget.
"They have an interest in City's Stevan Jovetic too but have yet to follow up with an enquiry and City want £20million for the Montenegro international.
"Inter Milan also want to sign Jovetic but on loan. City paid £22million for Jovetic when they signed him from Fiorentina in 2013 and want to recoup most of their initial outlay for the 25-year-old."
Finally, and away from the City-Liverpool links, it's believed Scott Sinclair will complete a permanent move to Aston Villa at the end of the season.
Brendan McCloughlin explains: "Sinclair, 26, is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium and joined Villa on loan from in January for the remainder of the campaign.
"His switch included the chance for Villa to make the move permanent for £2.5m and they are believed to be ready to take up that option.
"It is understood the player has now even bought the property he had been renting locally ahead of his anticipated move to Villa Park."
Liverpool target James Milner set to SNUB Man City's £34m contract offer and join Arsenal
Man City prepared to make James Milner HUGE offer to be one of Blues' top earners
But the England star is still set to quit Manchester City this summer despite the club's best efforts.
Manchester City have offered to make James Milner one of their highest earners in a bid to keep him at the club.
But it increasingly looks like the 29-year-old England star will turn down the package – worth £33million – and quit the Blues when his contract expires next month – with Liverpool favourites to sign him, ahead of Arsenal.
The club has become increasingly frustrated by comments, from media pundits and some City fans, suggesting that they have not done enough to keep him at the Etihad Stadium.
But they feel there is nothing else they can do to keep him happy after placing a new, four-year, £165,000-a-week deal on the table – and meeting his wish for more appearances this season.
Milner insists his decision was never going to be a financial one, but would be based on football ambitions.
He was frustrated last summer that, while he was a regular player for the Blues, he tended to be on the subs’ bench when the big games came around.
But this season Manuel Pellegrini has turned to Milner more and more, and the stats show that he has started six of the eight Champions League games and appeared as a substitute in the other two.
Man City's James Milner wanted by Manuel Pellegrini for new title mission
He has also started all six Premier League games against the other top four teams, and in total has made 27 starts, as opposed to 21 last season.
City are hoping Milner may yet decide to take their offer, believed to represent a pay rise of 50 per cent – and which would take him just below the elite pay bracket at City, which is occupied by world stars Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Yaya Toure.
But they may have to watch him walk away on a free transfer.
Liverpool head the queue of clubs keen to sign Milner, and the prospect of stepping into the shoes of the departing Steven Gerrard – and playing in his favoured central midfield position – may be the clincher.
Milner has underlined his importance to the club this season with some fine displays, and his eight-goal haul is his best return for the club.
Another dynamic display at Swansea on Sunday added to the pressure from fans who love the Yorkshireman.
Man City were hammered by FFP rules - now UEFA plan to ease them
And, of course, Milner’s status is only enhanced by the fact he counts towards the home-grown quota.
With Frank Lampard set to go, City will be down to four English-trained players if Milner departs as well – unless they include their own youth products Marcos Lopes, Jason Denayer and Karim Rekik in the squad.
City will again be able to submit a 25-man squad for the Champions League, but will only be allowed to name 17 foreign stars – they currently have 18.
Edin Dzeko a Liverpool transfer target as Reds look to offload Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini to raise summer transfer funds
Brendan Rodgers wants another top striker despite already signing Divock Origi from Lille and making an offer to Burnley's Danny Ings.
He has looked at Aston Villa's Christian Benteke who is also attracting interest from Wolfsburg and Roma but Villa don't wish to sell.
Dzeko, who is also drawing attention from Chelsea, has three years left on contract so would command a fee of around £25million.
Liverpool are looking to offload Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini to help boost their transfer budget.
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They have an interest in City's Stevan Jovetic too but have yet to follow up with an enquiry and City want £20million for the Montenegro international.
Inter Milan also want to sign Jovetic but on loan. City paid £22million for Jovetic when they signed him from Fiorentina in 2013 and want to recoup most of their initial outlay for the 25-year-old.
Scott Sinclair set to end Man City nightmare and make Aston Villa move permanent
SCOTT SINCLAIR is set to make his loan move to Aston Villa from Manchester City permanent now that the Midlands club have guaranteed their Premier League status.
Sinclair, 26, is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium and joined Villa on loan from in January for the remainder of the campaign.
His switch included the chance for Villa to make the move permanent for £2.5m and they are believed to be ready to take up that option.
It is understood the player has now even bought the property he had been renting locally ahead of his anticipated move to Villa Park.
The winger made a bright start under boss Tim Sherwood, starring in their FA Cup quarter-final win over West Brom but has struggled to reclaim a starting role following a hamstring injury.
He was dropped from Villa's match-day squad to face West Ham 10 days ago, yet was back on the bench in Saturday's 6-1 drubbing at Southampton, coming on as a late substitute for his first league outing in almost two months.
Sherwood remained tight-lipped on any clause obligating Villa to push through the move, yet he insisted his recent lack of match time had been down to a change in formation.
“There’s a discussion to be had at the end of the season," Sherwood said. "I’m not sure if it’s cast in stone (that we sign him if Villa stayed up), I haven’t got confirmation of that."
“The injuries interrupted him but we have changed the style and the way we play a little bit.
“We’re playing with two No.10s in N’Zogbia and Jack who play infield a little bit more.
“I think if we back to wide players then Scott will be an automatic choice to play there.
“It’s horses for courses at the moment. That’s the way we’re choosing to play.
“Not to say we will play that way between now and the end of the season, we may well change.
“He’s been training, still a good lad, a good player. He hasn’t become a bad player or anything like that.
“Sometimes we will have to play with wide players."
Pellegrini: Wilfried Bony can become ‘player we need’
Manuel Pellegrini is convinced Wilfried Bony will become “the player we need” despite the striker’s struggles following his move to Manchester City.
Bony has started only twice for City since leaving Swansea in January.
But the Ivory Coast international showed the scoring instincts which brought him 34 goals in 70 games for Swansea against his old club on Sunday, netting late on as a substitute in City’s 4-2 Premier League victory at the Liberty Stadium.
And City manager Pellegrini feels Bony will justify the club’s investment in him next season after the 26-year-old’s difficult settling-in period at the Etihad Stadium.
“He was very unlucky maybe this year when we bought him because he started by going to the Africa Cup of Nations and he came back with a lot of games in his body,” Pellegrini said.
“After that he had an important injury in his ankle and his knee in the same leg, so he stopped for about three or four weeks. After that we won five games in a row and I didn’t want to make changes during this moment.
“But it’s very important for him to play the minutes he can, first last week against Queens Park Rangers and now he has participated with a goal at Swansea. “I am absolutely sure we bought the player that we need and that he will be important in our future.”
Pellegrini also believes French defender Eliaquim Mangala will benefit from his first season in the Premier League.
Pellegrini said; “I think this has been a year he needed to be settled in the Premier League. I am sure we will see the best Mangala next year.”
Boost for Manchester City as Uefa set to ease Financial Fair Play rules
The financial fair play rules that saw Manchester City handed a huge fine by Uefa last season are set to be relaxed.
Uefa is expected to announce next month that the FFP rules will be eased to allow more owner investment — a move that will aim to nullify more than 10 legal challenges that the European governing body is now facing.
It will also hand a huge boost to City in terms of challenging for honours next season if restrictions on spending on transfers are watered down. It will mean owners of clubs who do make a loss will be able to cover those losses with injection of equity — but not loans.
Some clubs, including City, have argued that the FFP rules favour the rich, established clubs because they effectively prevent wealthy owners taking over a club and pumping in huge sums of money over a short period.
That scenario happened with City and Paris St Germain and both were handed €65million fines and transfer restrictions last season, and the European Clubs’ Association has been putting pressure on Uefa for a change.
Uefa president Michel Platini has revealed that some of the rules will be “eased”— and the lawyer leading one of the legal challenges against the FFP system has welcomed the move.
Platini said: “The world is two-faced but we will say this openly: I think we’ll ease things, but it will be the executive committee who will decide if it is to be eased and the outcome will be known by the end of June.
“I think the regulations have been very good and it is the clubs who voted for FFP.
“But the French press say it is not right that [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich can buy many players and in France they can not buy them. But if the Qataris had bought AC Milan, the French would also say we should make financial fair play even tougher.”
One source close to the negotiations said: “Many clubs want change — the current system means those who have more will always have more, and those who have less will always have less.”
Jean-Louis Dupont, the lawyer leading the legal action against Uefa, said: “We welcome the announcement of a change in the rules in line with the demands expressed by our clients in their various legal actions.
“When the exact content and scope of these changes are known, we will consider with our clients how this development, which on first sight appears favourable, is likely to meet their legitimate expectations.”
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak last year claimed that history would prove that his model of heavy investment in the club at all levels is the right one.
Khaldoon said in May: “We have zero debt. We don’t pay a penny to service any debt. For me, that is a sustainable model. However, our friends at Uefa seem to believe otherwise.”
CHECK OUT THE EXCELLENT BLOGS OF www.danielgeey.com (www.danielgeey.com/uefa-financial-fair- ... year-makes)
Juventus star Paul Pogba offered £250,000-a-week to transfer to Manchester City
Manchester City have offered Paul Pogba a £250,000-a-week deal to entice the midfielder to the Etihad next season.
The Frenchman is highly sought-after this summer and he has lucrative offers on the table from Man City and Barcelona, report Fichajes.
The 22-year-old moved to Juventus in 2012 after becoming disgruntled with a lack of playing time at Manchester United.
Pogba’s 11 goals in 39 appearances this term have helped the Italian champions reach the Champions League final against Barcelona.
However, Juventus are resigned to losing their prized asset and would amass a huge fee for a player that they signed for free from the Red Devils less than three years ago.
Why Eliaquim Mangala Will Come Good for Manchester City in 2015/16
Has a player ever embodied a club quite as perfectly as Eliaquim Mangala at Manchester City? The phrase “Typical City,” which became synonymous with the club in the 1980s and '90s, captures their ability to veer frantically from exhilarating brilliance to absolute tragedy with seemingly nothing in between.
City’s relegation from the top flight in 1996, when they inexplicably took the ball into the corner in the final moments of their 2-2 draw with Liverpool under the impression a point would keep them up, was one of the definitive Typical City moments.
But so, too, was the last-gasp playoff win over Gillingham in 1999 and the remarkable 3-2 victory over QPR in 2012 that sealed their first title win in 44 years, a moment now etched into Premier League history.
Mangala’s debut season at City has certainly had shades of Typical City about it.
Take his recent display away at Tottenham. For 15 minutes, he was pulled all over the place and looked woefully short of the level needed to prosper in the Premier League. His positioning was questionable, his challenges rash and Tottenham looked as though they would take advantage of his inadequacies.
However, he gained composure and began to assert himself on the game. By the end, it was fair to say he had been one of City’s best performers and had played a significant role in their 1-0 win.
His debut against Chelsea back in September was remarkable—a display of power, pace and confidence that belied the short time he’d been at the club. He nullified Diego Costa, who came into the match well in-form and with a reputation for bullying defenders, restricting him to fleeting moments of impact.
But then came a shaky run of games that saw him dropped from the side. He looked nervous and vulnerable, not helped, in truth, by the form of those around him. Gael Clichy, who started the season badly, let him down on more than one occasion, as did Vincent Kompany, who has since lost his place in the side.
He’s had a difficult start to his career in England. Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, has spoken openly about it, citing his delayed introduction to the side after a protracted summer move as a reason for his poor start. However, he's consistently reaffirmed his belief that the Frenchman has what's needed to become a regular for City in the coming years.
Before City’s home match with Crystal Palace in December, Pellegrini said: "Of course we have a lot of trust in Mangala. That's why we bought him.
"Maybe he has made some mistakes in the Premier League and maybe he has delayed a bit to be settled here.
"But we continue to trust in him because I am sure he is a very good player, he is a very young player and he will be a very important centre-back for our team."
What fills some observers with confidence about his future prospects are his natural attributes. He looks built to become a top-class defender. He possesses pace, power and incredible athleticism but perhaps, at the moment, lacks defensive nous and composure. Those are elements the coaching staff feel they can work on, though, and the more games he plays, the more comfortable he looks.
The injury Kompany sustained in the defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park at the beginning of April saw Mangala given a run of games without the threat of losing his place, and he's responded. He came on at half time in the Manchester derby and has started the last five matches, looking more assured in each one, even if there have still been periods in games in which he been exposed.
It's been patchy, and given the huge outlay to bring him to the club, City will be expecting a huge improvement next season. But the signs are there that he can become an excellent player. He's been culpable for goals and had moments of madness, but in there somewhere is a potentially solid defender.
Chelsea and Man City set for summer battle over Everton's John Stones
CHELSEA and Manchester City are set to go head-to-head this summer for Everton defender John Stones.
The 20-year-old has been in impressive form for the Toffees this season after returning from injury.
And, according to the DSSC, he will have his pick of clubs this season.
Stones has four caps for England and is reportedly being lined up as John Terry's eventual successor at Stamford Bridge, while City are keen to land him to bolster their home-grown quota.
Terry has another year's contract for next season, while City are in desperate need of homegrown players.
Stones has played 22 Premier League this season, scoring once - in the 3-0 win over Manchester United - and has helped Everton move up into the top half of the table after their slow start.
However Roberto Martinez may need to plan for life without him next season.
It is suggested a bid of around £20million would be enough to convince Everton to sell.
Stones joined Everton in January 2013 from Barnsley for around £3m, making his debut at the beginning of the following season in the League Cup against Stevenage.
Man City prospect Jason Denayer tipped to be a world class talent
The young Manchester City defender has impressed Belgium coach Marc Wilmots while on loan at Celtic this year.
Belgium boss Marc Wilmots has been getting excited over the 'world class' potential of Manchester City defender Jason Denayer.
It has been a breakthrough year for the 19-year-old centre-back. Having caught the eye on the US tour last summer, Denayer has spent this campaign with Celtic.
Ronny Deila's team have won a domestic double and enjoyed an entertaining run in the Europa League, and the Belgian defender has been central to their cause.
Denayer was voted PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year for his performances, and earned his first international appearance in March.
With Vincent Kompany suspended for Belgium's June qualifier, Denayer has impressed Wilmots.
"I went to Milan to see him play for Celtic against Inter Milan," he said. "After 30 minutes, Celtic were down to ten men and then I saw what a player he is. He took command and remained calm and controlled his defence.
"First and foremost, he defends. He's also fast and his positional sense is superb. I'm not saying he is in pole position to start against Wales in Cardiff in June because the match is still over a month away.
"But what I will say is that Jason has enormous potential. If he continues to evolve at the rate he is progressing, he can be world class."
As Denayer heads back to City this summer, another Blues centre-back could be heading in the opposite direction.
Bhoys boss Deila admitted last week that he had held talks with Dedryck Boyata to try to convince the 24-year-old to join the Scottish Premier League champions.
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Jose Mourinho "blames" Arsenal, Manchester City and United for Chelsea defeat at West Brom
The champions suffered their third defeat of the season at the Hawthorns but Mourinho pointed the finger at the title rivals for failing to keep the pace
Jose Mourinho blamed Chelsea's title rivals for his side's 3-0 defeat at West Brom on Monday night.
Chris Brunt's strike followed a Saido Berahino penalty at the Hawthorns as the new champions slipped to just their third defeat of the campaign.
The loss ended Chelsea's 16-game unbeaten run and Mourinho believes his players were given the chance to take their foot off the pedal, because Arsenal, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs are so far off the pace.
"The ideal scenario is to be champions and don't play again, go home, have holidays and don't play again," he said.
"When you lose that salt and pepper of the competition it's difficult to compete at the highest level. Bayern Munich have lost the last three matches in Germany after winning the title.
"If I have to blame anybody, blame Man Utd, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool for letting us win the title so early!
"If, today, we need this game to be champions, I'm not saying we'll win but I'm saying we would compete at a higher level to win."
Chelsea's task at the Hawthorns was made considerably harder after Cesc Fabregas was sent off by referee Mike Jones for kicking the ball at Brunt.
Mourinho questioned the dismissal and claimed Jones should have done more to control the situation, created by a spat between Diego Costa and Gareth McAuley.
He said: "Where is the danger of the situation, where is the aggression in the situation to get the red card in a friendly game?
"For me a top referee, a stable, big personality and in control of the game, goes there, two or three words and it's done. It's a bizarre red card."
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville says his old club should use 24-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea as leverage to sign Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale, 25. (Sun)
Real are yet to say whether manager Carlo Ancelotti will stay for next season, despite the Italian saying he plans to. (Guardian)
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says the Premier League has greater strength in depth than its Spanish equivalent and Barcelona and Real Madrid would not be as dominant if they played in England. (Talkshit)
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana, 27, has described his first season at Anfield as "very average" but says the club can cope with the loss of 34-year-old captain Steven Gerrard with the players they already have. (Guardian)
Swansea defender Ashley Williams, 30, says he enjoyed playing in this season's Europa League but is relieved to have missed out on qualification for next year's competition. (Mirror)
Former Barcelona and AC Milan forward Ronaldinho, now at Mexican club Queretaro, enjoyed a celebratory meal after securing a place in the Liga MX Clausura semi-finals. The 35-year-old posted on Instagram: "Good meal to recharge the batteries! Does anyone want some?"
Tottenham's 25-year-old forward Nacer Chadli has revealed his love for video game Football Manager, asking his followers on Twitter: "How many seasons have you reached?"
Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen was modest in victory after his club secured the Spanish league title. The 29-year-old, who is yet to make his debut following a move from Arsenal, tweeted: "Congrats to my team-mates for winning the league yesterday. Hopefully I will be able to contribute more next year."
Pranksters posed as autograph hunters to trick David De Gea into signing a piece of paper that states he promises to stay at Old Trafford "for 10 years unless Manchester United fail to play in the Champions League for two seasons running". (Cheeky Sport via Express)
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