Manchester City poised to splash out £21.5m for Benfica defender David Luiz
Manchester City are expected to make their move to sign Benfica defender David Luiz within 48 hours in an attempt to fend off growing competition from Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
An offer of €25 million (£21.5 million) is expected to be lodged for the highly rated 6ft 2in central defender who can also play at left-back.
City manager Roberto Mancini, who has been given a vote of confidence to start next season in charge, is desperate to improve City’s defence. He has earmarked Luiz as well as Hamburg’s £11 million-rated Jerome Boateng, who plays on the right, as two of his most important summer targets. A deal for Boateng, the brother of Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng, is close to being announced.
Both prospective transfers again highlight the financial muscle that City are ready to flex as they try to overhaul their squad for next season.
Indeed club sources were last night refusing to rule out a bid for England midfielder James Milner, who is yet to agree a new deal at Aston Villa and who has also been monitored by Manchester United. It may take up to £30 million to persuade Villa to sell.
Luiz, who is 23, has enjoyed an outstanding campaign for Benfica, who he joined from Brazilian club Vitoria three years ago, and has impressed during the European games. City have been linked with a move for him as well as his Benfica team-mates, Angel Di Maria and Oscar Cardozo, but it is Luiz who has emerged as their primary target.
If City were to sign him, along with the 6ft 3in Boateng, it would raise doubts over the future of the likes of Wayne Bridge and Kolo Toure, who have struggled despite big-money moves last year.
The future of the likes of Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha is also being reviewed.
Benfica have been citing a prohibitive release clause in Luiz’s contract but it is believed the Portuguese club are now resigned to losing him to the highest bidder, especially as he is partly owned by a supporters and shareholders’ fund.
City’s fiercest competition is set to come from Real, who want a new left-sided defender, but Barcelona are also keen to play Luiz at left-back to replace Eric Abidal and provide cover for Gerard Pique.
Chelsea are also thought to have registered an interest, with Ricardo Carvalho expected to leave this summer, but with the emergence of Jeffrey Bruma and Branislav Ivanovic’s impressive displays this season, albeit mainly at right-back, the need to sign another central defender is less pressing.
Mancini, meanwhile, insists his target for next season remains mounting a challenge for the Premier League title.
“I want to win a lot of trophies with this club, he said. “We did OK this season, but next season I want us to aim to win the Premier League. [This season] makes me more determined than ever.”
Gareth Barry sleeping in oxygen tent to aid recovery
Gareth Barry is sleeping in an oxygen tent as he desperately tries to regain fitness ahead of next month’s World Cup finals. The chances of the 27-year-old midfielder making Fabio Capello’s final squad remain extremely slim as he struggles to recover from the ankle ligament damage he sustained playing for Manchester City.
City, rather than England, have suggested that Barry sleep in the tent to try to aid his recovery, however. Other City players, such as Craig Bellamy and Joleon Lescott, who has suffered from a hamstring injury, use the equipment.
Some clubs, such as Arsenal, are more sceptical about the tents’ effectiveness. Indeed manager Arsène Wenger is said to have vetoed Theo Walcott from sleeping in one earlier this season as he did not want to alter the winger’s training regime during a campaign.
Barry is booked in to have a medical assessment on his ankle on Monday — the day England play Mexico at Wembley – when the injury will be examined by orthopaedic surgeon James Calder, who is used by many Premier League clubs and is regarded as the leading authority on such injuries.
It was a surprise that Barry was named in Capello’s 30-strong provisional World Cup squad because the day before the England manager had said it would take “too long” for the player to recover. However, because he is being assessed by Calder next week it was thought to be worth waiting.
Barry suffered his injury on May 5, against Tottenham, and his foot is still in a protective boot. Capello does not expect him to be fit for England’s opening game against the United States on June 12 but if there was a chance that Barry could be ready to face Algeria on June 18 he might make the final squad of 23, which is named on June 1.
For that to happen Barry would have to be able to join up with the rest of the squad for the second part of their pre-tournament training camp in Irdning, Austria, but despite every attempt being made to give him time and help him regain fitness, it appears unlikely he will make it.
Even considering Barry’s inclusion goes against the statements previously made by Capello that he would only take fit players to South Africa but with Owen Hargreaves ruled out there is no natural holding player in the squad and especially not one with his experience. The left-footed Barry also provides balance.
England arrived at their training camp in Austria on Monday to be greeted with unseasonably cold weather and even flurries of snow. The windchill factor was -2C and the forecast is for more bad weather. It is said to be the worst weather in that part of Austria for decades.
Capello took out a 24-man squad — minus Barry and also the five players, four from Chelsea and Portsmouth’s David James, who featured in Saturday’s FA Cup final. The five are due to fly out on Wednesday.
There had been fears that the volcanic ash cloud would prevent the squad from flying out of Heathrow on Monday morning but in the event they were allowed to take to the skies.
England have a contingency plan in place should the ash prevent them from flying back to London on Sunday.
JAMIE REDKNAPP: I can see why Aston Villa are fighting to keep Manchester City target James Milner
James Milner burst on to the scene, aged 16 years and 309 days, but never looked like a boy in a man's game.
Like Wayne Rooney, he was advanced in his development. When I first played against him, he was a Leeds player, a bright and lively wide man; quick across the ground, athletic, strong.
It's fascinating, but even though some Barclays Premier League heavyweights are knocking at his door, I'm not sure if we know his best position.
It seems that City would like to use him as a midfield runner - a powerhouse whose fitness will see him cover the whole pitch and bring more energy to their team. He can certainly run and, like Carlos Tevez, is not afraid of hard work.
I can see why City might want to sign him from Aston Villa and what he brings to their team. He can fill a variety of positions but I'm not sure where he is most effective, or where he will eventually settle.
The cost of buying Milner is expensive, but you sign at least three players for the price of one. He can play wide and crosses with accuracy and pace, an inswinger or an outswinger. This always seemed his natural position.
He can play off the front, a role he will grow into with experience, like a Frank Lampard, or a Steven Gerrard, as a second striker, making full use of his range of powerful shooting and his movement. He can play in central midfield, a new position for him this season and one that has caught the eye, although I am unconvinced it is his best role.
City must like what they have seen this season, but if you look at his performances in the big games, teams have set about him in that midfield role in a flat four, where he has been asked to defend and protect his back line.
Villa lost 7-1 at Chelsea and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas gave him a bit of a chasing at the Emirates. They are the games when you have to judge his merits as a top central midfielder. He can play there, I'm just not sure it is where you get the best out of him consistently.
You can see watching Milner that he has a passion for the game. I hear he trains like a demon and will stay behind and work hard at improving. That can set an example to others in the team. He is super fit and with his team ethic transmitting to others, he will be worth his weight in gold.
Worth £24million? Well, he is English and he is only 24. He will score more goals as he learns that side of his game and he is a good, honest player. He is a box-to-box lionhearted midfielder, with a creative vision.
He keeps his head and controls his emotions and is a top modern footballer, who will improve with better players.
For instance, he can play a cameo role in the World Cup for England, where he is sure to come on from the bench and might yet force his way into the team. He seems to be ahead of Joe Cole in the pecking order as a creative player.
I can imagine Villa wanting to keep him, but sometimes an offer like this can be too good to refuse. He has developed into a better player under Martin O'Neill because £12m looked a lot of money when he signed from Newcastle two years ago.
I can see why big clubs want him and the versatility he has to offer. One question remains: How much would Paul Scholes have been worth if he was 10 years younger? I'm estimating upwards of £30m ... at least.
Rangers snap up Manchester City youngster
Northern Ireland starlet Andrew Mitchell has agreed a move to Ibrox.
Rangers have made their first signing of the close season by snapping up Northern Ireland Under-19 player Andrew Mitchell. The youngster, who was previously part of the youth system at Manchester City, will join the Glasgow club next month.
Mitchell, who can play in central midfield or at right-back, has been signed with the future in mind, and will initially join Rangers’ Under-19 squad. However, the Northern Irishman is regarded as a bright talent and is expected to push for a place in the first team squad sooner rather than later.
A regular international at youth level, Mitchell will report to his new club after taking part in his country’s Under-19 European Championship qualification tournament later this month.
Mitchell has come through the Academy system at Manchester City, which has previously produced players of the calibre of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards. He was part of the City side that reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Dallas Cup youth tournament last year.
The 18-year-old will be welcomed at Ibrox by two countrymen who are already first team stars. Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty are both former youth internationals who arrived in the SPL after spells in England.
Though not a flagship signing, the news of a player joining the playing staff at Rangers will be welcome for fans of the club. At least four first team squad members are expected to depart the club in the close season as there contracts have expired and several others have been linked with moves away from Glasgow.
Manager Walter Smith is also out of contract and is thought to be awaiting confirmation of the budget for next season as he decides his future. Smith’s position could determine the fate of some players, with club top scorer Kris Boyd having stated he will announce his intentions in the coming weeks.
DaMarcus Beasley and Steven Smith have already admitted they will be seeking pastures new while Kirk Broadfoot and Nacho Novo are thought to be considering offers from other clubs
For full City Transfer Bollox please use dedicated thread: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=32472
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Arsenal are set to confirm the signing of Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh after the 26-year-old Morocco international arrived in London on Monday to finalise the terms of his deal. Daily Mail
The Gunners have had a £14m offer for Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina rejected, and manager Arsene Wenger could now turn his attentions to Juventus stopper Gianluigi Buffon. Footylatest.com
Manchester United are preparing a club record £50m bid to lure Franck Ribery away from Champions League finalist Bayern Munich.Footylatest.com
West Ham will fend off competition from Birmingham and Sunderland to capture France international Sidney Govou, 30, from Lyon on a free transfer. Daily Mail
Birmingham have also been foiled, at least initially, in their attempt to acquire French winger Charles N'Zogbia after Wigan turned down an £8m bid from the Blues. Daily Mail
Southampton will take former England Under-21 midfielder Andrew Surman back to St Mary's from Wolves, a year after the 23-year-old left the club for Molineux. Daily Mail
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.inthestands.co.uk/5574
OTHER BOLLOX
Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano has given his strongest indication yet that he will leave Liverpool in the summer, admitting that he finds life on Merseyside far from ideal.
Liverpool Daily Post
Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose FA Cup final tackle resulted in the ankle injury that will keep Chelsea's German midfielder Michael Ballack out of the World Cup, has suffered the wrath of the German press over the incident. Tabloid Bild branded the tackle a 'revenge attack' while Germany coach Joachim Loew was forced to issue a message of support for Boateng's half-brother Jerome, a German international defender who will join Manchester City from Hamburg in the summer.
Daily Mail
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