Kolo Toure could reunite with Balotelli as Milan enter race to sign outbound defender
AC Milan are considering an offer for Manchester City's Kolo Toure.
The 32-year-old defender is out of contract in the summer and has already confirmed he will be leaving the Etihad.
Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Monaco and Paris St Germain have all sounded out the Ivory Coast international, who has been limited to just 16 appearances in all competitions this season.
Talking to L'Equipe last month, Toure talked up a move to France. He said: 'Monaco are a great club that want to progress like Paris. It can be a very good option indeed with my experience.'
However, Milan are planning big investment in their squad this summer. They have a new policy of buying young after losing big earners such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to PSG last year yet, they recognise the young players will need experience to guide them into a title challenge with new champions Juventus next season.
They are in the market for older players who are available on free transfers and bargain fees and Toure fits that profile.
Mancini: If I was English they’d be praising me to the skies
Roberto Mancini is a man under pressure to win and win well against Wigan in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Outpointed in the Premier League and knocked out in the first round in Europe, Manchester City are left with the FA Cup as a consolation, but Mancini insists the pressure is entirely down to the media.
“If I was English they’d be praising me to the skies,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport, “but I’m Italian and so they’re hypercritical.
“They forget that United added [Robin] van Persie and [Shinji] Kagawa to the squad we beat on goal difference while our transfers were more limited.”
His future is apparently under threat, with reports of club bosses making an approach for Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, but Mancini claims these are “fictional tales of the English newspapers”.
“It’s absolutely untrue and I’ve never felt under threat. They criticise me for second place, but if this theory were true then everyone should be sacked apart from Ferguson who won the Premier League and Laudrup who took the League Cup. The truth is they act this way because I’m Italian and because City broke up the cartel. Until a couple of years ago English football was in the hands of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Now we’re there as well and it annoys them.”
As for next season City have had their eyes on several possible reinforcements in summer, among them Luis Suarez. Mancini is a big admirer of the Liverpool striker who he named as his player of the year, but may be cautious after his experience with Mario Balotelli.
“Suarez reminds me of Balotelli,” he says. “Partly he looks for trouble but there’s aggression towards him too. There’s no argument about him as a player though: he’s world-class.”
Drury heads back to Mancini's City
HUMBERSTON youngster Adam Drury has returned to parent club Manchester City after suffering promotion heartache with Burton Albion. The 19-year-old had been on loan at the Pirelli Stadium since January, making 14 appearances as part of the Brewers' bid to make it to League One.
But the winger who signed a pro deal with Roberto Mancini's men in 2010 – as reported in the Telegraph – tasted disappointment on Sunday.
Albion slipped to an agonising 5-4 aggregate defeat to Bradford City in their League Two play-off semi-final, with Drury an unused substitute in the second leg.
The youngster, who has been with City since he was 13, will return to the Etihad Stadium to rejoin their Elite Development Squad after signing a new two-year deal earlier this year.
Sinclair has blood clot removed
Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair remains in hospital after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his shoulder.
However, the 24-year-old is expected to be discharged at the weekend.
The former England under-21 international was admitted to Manchester's Alexandra Hospital after admitting he felt unwell last week.
The club later confirming Sinclair was suffering from a clot in his shoulder.
City manager Roberto Mancini said he hoped to have Sinclair back as soon as possible.
We are very sorry for Scott but we hope he recovers quickly,'' Mancini said. ``Scott is getting better, he is in the hospital.''
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[/spoiler]Wayne Rooney, 27, tells his Manchester United team-mates he wants to join Bayern Munich in a deal that would cost the Germans £30m. Daily Mirror
Arsenal and Liverpool will have to stump up at least £10m if they are to capture Swansea captain Ashley Williams, 28, at the end of the season. Metro
Atletico Madrid are believed to be preparing a £40m bid for 26-year-old Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. Daily Mirror
Hull are planning a move for Birmingham defender Curtis Davies, 28, as they prepare for life in the Premier League. DSSC
West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie, 31, can leave The Hawthorns if a suitable agreement can be reached with another club as the Nigeria international still has 12 months left to run on his current deal. Birmingham Mail
Dean Saunders, 48, could return to Doncaster as manager after his sacking by relegated Wolves on Tuesday. Sun
Barcelona are to step up their interest in Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, 30, who has three years left on his Anfield contract. DSSC
Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song, 25, has insisted that he will not return to England despite failing to hold down a regular first-team place at La Liga giants Barcelona.
Gonzalo Higuain has made 186 appearances for Real Madrid since 2007, scoring 104 goals London Evening Standard
Sporting Kansas City boss Peter Vermes has revealed a number of clubs in Europe have already declared their interest in signing former Norwich City loan striker Kei Kamara, 28. Eastern Daily Press
Juventus are ahead of Tottenham in the race to sign 25-year-old Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, after opening talks with the Argentine's representatives. talkSHIT
Celtic are believed to be monitoring Burnley's 28-goal striker Charlie Austin, 23. Lancashire Telegraph
Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has revealed he expects 33-year-old goalkeeper Julio Cesar to leave Loftus Road at the end of the season. Sky Sports
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United could make bids in excess of £40m for Tottenham and Wales forward Gareth Bale, 23.
London Evening Standard
Real Madrid are interested in signing Napoli's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, 26, but may be deterred by the price of the release clause in his contract. Marca
Barcelona are looking to sign Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundogan, 22, although the German club will attempt to keep him with a renegotiated contract. Sport.es
Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri is among the contenders to take over at Juventus if Antonio Conte decides to leave after winning his second successive league title with the Turin-based club. Tuttosport
A German football fan has put down a beach towel to reserve a seat at Wembley for the Champions League final. Daily Star
Lokeren goalkeeper Boubacar Barry, 33, woke up with a nasty headache on Monday morning after smashing his head against the post. The 606 newsletter
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