ROUND UP
Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic have supposedly been on the Blues’ radar for quite some time and with pre-season now underway, the urgency to complete deals in the football world is gathering pace.
Graham Chase is not alone in suggesting a classic ‘double swoop’ this morning, writing: “Manchester City are closing on yet another striker with Alvaro Negredo set to join from Seville for £21.5m.
“City are also on the verge of capturing Fiorentina’s Montenegro striker Stevan Jovetic as new boss Manuel Pellegrini reshapes his attack.
On Monday Seville president Jose Maria Del Nido insisted there was only a “one per cent chance” of Negredo joining City.
"Pellegrini’s squad are on a pre-season trip to South Africa and Negredo and Jovetic would add further competition for Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko.
"City have sold Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez in the past six months and Pellegrini needs more firepower.”
Of course, the rumours don’t end there. With a number of stories reporting Aleksandar Kolarov won’t be allowed to leave City, it appears another defender – subject of numerous transfer stories linking him to other clubs for what seems like the past 12 months – could be set for a new deal at the Etihad.
The Sun’s Martin Blackburn writes: “City are planning contract talks with centre-half Joleon Lescott.
"The England defender has just one year left on his contract at the Etihad and feared he could be facing the exit this summer.
"But new boss Manuel Pellegrini has assured Lescott he is part of his plans. Club officials want to talk to Lescott, 30, about a one-year extension to his contract while City are on their pre-season globe- trotting tour to South Africa, Hong Kong, Germany and Finland.
"City were hoping to raid Real Madrid for Portuguese international Pepe but new Bernabeu boss Carlo Ancelotti does not want to sell. And that has helped Lescott’s case for a new deal.”
Manchester City answer call for more fire power with £48m splurge for Jovetic and Negredo
The Blues, ideally, would like to take their complement of front men back up to four for the first time since January, when Mario Balotelli departed to join AC Milan
City are poised to double the size of their strike force and take their summer spending to £90million by bringing in Stevan Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo.
The Blues, ideally, would like to take their complement of front men back up to four for the first time since January, when Mario Balotelli departed to join AC Milan.
And they are close to securing deals worth around £24m each for Jovetic and Negredo who – as long as they agree personal terms and there are no last-minute hitches – could join the Blues as they fly to Hong Kong at the end of the week.
With Carlos Tevez joining Juventus last month, City are down to just Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko as conventional strikers – and a lack of goals was the big difference between their title win in 2012 and second place this year.
The need for a goalscorer has been uppermost in the thoughts of the Blues’ movers and shakers, although it was claimed that Fernandinho has always been the number one summer target.
Former manager Roberto Mancini had Napoli’s Edinson Cavani at the top of his wish-list, and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao was also carefully monitored until it became plain that he was heading for Monaco.
Jovetic has long been coveted by City, firstly by Mancini, and is now favoured by new boss Manuel Pellegrini, who is also a fan of Sevilla striker Negredo.
The two men are very different. Negredo is a bustling, powerful six ft one centre forward who has averaged a goal every two games for unfashionable Sevilla over the last four seasons.
He is the man who City hope will really up the goals ratio – and if they can keep Aguero free of injury after the interruptions he suffered last season, and get a little more out of last season’s top scorer Dzeko, the Blues will have a formidable attack.
Jovetic is not noted as a goalscorer, and is more of a second striker – a creative force who likes to play in behind a front man, but who can play as lone striker. Indeed, he is versatile enough to fill just about any role in the front part of Pellegrini’s formation.
He has netted 27 goals in 63 games in the last two seasons for Fiorentina, so his contribution is hardly negligible.
At six ft one, and after building himself up from the slip of a lad who joined Fiorentina for £8m from Partizan Belgrade – where he was made captain at 18 – he should not find the physical nature of the Premier League a problem.
His task would be more about providing the ammunition for Aguero, Dzeko and Negredo, and snapping up the chances and half-chances which they always create.
Fiorentina are resigned to losing Jovetic, and City appear close to sealing a deal worth around £23.5m, plus bonuses, for the 23-year-old Montenegro international.
If they secure the signing, the Blues will get a player who many believe could mature into a true world superstar.
His former national team manager Dejan Savicevic, who once described himself as ‘God’ to a traffic policeman, was in no doubt about Jovetic’s talent, when he made him a centrepiece of his team. Savicevic was himself a brilliant attacking midfielder for AC Milan, where he won two Champions League and three Serie A titles.
He said of Jovetic: “He is utterly fearless and I don’t see a limit to his potential. Is he the new Savicevic? No, he can be even better. He reminds me of Johan Cruyff.”
Preparations have already been made for his departure, with Fiorentina buying Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich, while Jovetic was not on the coach which headed to the squad training camp in northern Italy.
He was filmed at lunchtime appearing to say farewell the regulars at the Florence restaurant he frequents and, on being asked if he would say goodbye to the fans, he replied “I will”.
Strangely, it could have been the sale of Tevez to Juve which paved the way for City to grab Jovetic, as he was angling for a move to Turin.
Negredo is utterly different – in some ways he is more of an English-style centre forward than most strikers currently playing in the Premier League, although he possesses the touch and neat passing ability which is a necessity to play in La Liga.
“The Beast of Vallecas” scored 31 goals for Sevilla last season and forged a special partnership with Jesus Navas, who joined the Blues last month.
Quick and strong, Negredo is good in the air and has scored six goals in 14 international appearances for Spain. He revels in playing as a lone striker, holding the ball up and bringing teammates into play.
That would make him the perfect partner for Jovetic or Aguero – and even for both – but may mean he is more often than not in contention with Dzeko for one place in the team.
If there are any last-minute hitches, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be a fallback option.
The upshot is that nobody’s place in the front six at City is secure – and that is just the way Pellegrini wants it.
City set for £20m bid for Real defender Pepe with Lescott poised for new deal
Manchester City are weighing up a fresh move for Real Madrid defender Pepe despite plans to offer Joleon Lescott a new contract.
City, who have closed a £24.5million deal for Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, have had a £15m bid rejected by Madrid, whose new boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to keep the Portugal centre back. He is set to lose Raul Albiol to Napoli.
But Ancelotti has been told he must sell to help finance new signings and City must decide whether to raise their offer nearer £20m for a player who turned 30 this year.
Either way, they have already decided to give Lescott a new one-year deal with director of football Txiki Begiristain set to open talks with the England defender and his representatives over the next 48 hours.
Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido warned that the Negredo deal was on the brink of collapse, but it is understood that the two clubs are close to completing a transfer worth £21.5m with £3m in add-ons.
Negredo is expected to confirm the move today.
City are also trying to finalise terms on a deal for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic
Dutch giants rival Sunderland for Manchester City ace
FEYENOORD would be interested in rivalling Sunderland for striker John Guidetti, if Manchester City make the striker available this summer.
Despite the £6m capture of American international Jozy Altidore, Sunderland could be in the market for further additions to their front-line before the end of the transfer window.
As the Gazette reported yesterday, Hull City are in talks to take Danny Graham on a season-long loan, despite the 27-year-old’s Sunderland career being just six months old.
And if Sunderland were to offload Graham, then Paolo Di Canio is likely to add to his attacking options with another striker.
Guidetti has been mooted as a Sunderland target for the last year, yet the interest from the Black Cats is very real this summer, despite the Swedish international spending last season on the sidelines through illness and injury.
The 21-year-old is currently with the Man City squad on their pre-season tour of South Africa and there have been suggestions that he could be given a chance under new manager Manuel Pellegrini.
If City make Guidetti available either permanently or on loan, Sunderland will be in the running, but Feyenoord would be too after the frontman netted 20 goals in 23 appearances for the Dutch side during the 2011-12 campaign.
Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel insists there have been no talks with City, but has left the door open to a possible return to Holland for Guidetti.
“Guidetti is in our hearts and the door is always open for him,” said van Geel. “He knows that.
“If a godsend occurs, we would naturally increase our squad with him.
“But I would like to say clearly that no concrete efforts have been made to get him.”
Di Canio currently has six senior strikers at his disposal – Altidore, Graham, Steven Fletcher, Connor Wickham, Stephane Sessegnon and Ji Dong-won – with the head coach wanting at least five available for the campaign.
But with Ji still expected to leave the club and Hull showing serious interest in Graham, it opens the door to a second striking addition.
Sessegnon could also leave the club, with Sunderland willing to listen to offers for the Benin international, whose wages at the Stadium of Light have proved preventative to potential suitors so far this summer.
Manchester City: Pressure on Pellegrini Makes Etihad No Country for Young Men
"Maybe Jovetic, maybe Negredo, perhaps Ibrahimovic...ah, choices."
Manuel Pellegrini will never say it, but his bosses at Manchester City did him absolutely no favors by announcing their aggressive (delusional?) club goals after the debacle that was last season.
City's brazen lust for silver will necessarily have an impact on both the club's transfer activity and its mainly lip service goal of blooding young players.
While the club's website bleats that its Academy "Provides a strong and effective Youth Programme, for the recruitment and development of young footballers, within Manchester City Football Club," the reality for young players at City is much more stark.
Paul Chronnell's piece in The Guardian set forth the gauntlet tossed at Pellegrini's feet by City brass (most notably Ferran Soriano) upon his hiring in May.
"Pellegrini has been told by the club's chief executive that they are expecting him to preside over an extensive period of success at the Etihad Stadium, which includes wining five trophies in the next five years," wrote Chronnell.
Not just any trophies, by the way.
"I want one title a year. That includes the Champions League, the Premier League or the FA Cup. Is it a realistic aim? I think it is, yes," Soriano reportedly said.
All right then.
Pellegrini has in his trademark cool manner parried any suggestion that he is under undue pressure from the club's mandate. He even insists that developing young players at City is part of his plan.
Per Saj Chowdhury of BBC.co.uk, Pellegrini recently said, "I'm not only here to win trophies, I'm here to work with young players."
Brave talk, for sure, but as anyone with any sense will tell you, watching what a man does always tells you more than listening to what he says.
If Pellegrini really intended to give the likes of Denis Suarez, John Guidetti and Abdul Razak significant opportunities this season, he would not be heavy in after Stevan Jovetic, Alvaro Negredo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Not that there is anything wrong with pursuing those players. As set forth above, Pellegrini is under a brutal mandate from his new employers.
No one can question that it will be much easier to win a Premier League crown and/or a Champions League title with Jovetic, Negredo or Ibrahimovic than it would be to do so relying on younger talent.
But neither City nor Pellegrini can have it both ways, i.e., professing to value development of young players while overstocking the roster with full-fledged world class footballers two deep at almost every position.
"What do I have to do to get some run around here?"
When players like Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia are apt to scrap for playing time (as they are this season), what hope is there for any of the kids?
So it is more than fine for Pellegrini to see and accept the stony truth of things, which is that he will not last the three years he figures to be at Manchester City if his side does not win big and win now.
As long as Pellegrini stops, well, fibbing about his altruistic hope to develop young players instead of deploying a small army of eight-figure salaried mercenaries.
Because it insults my intelligence, and it makes me very angry.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Manchester United and Barcelona to go head to head with Chelsea and City for Marquinhos
MANCHESTER UNITED and Barcelona have both placed bids for Roma star Marquinhos.
That's according to agent Roberto Calenda, who says the Italian giants are now open to letting him go for the right price.
He said: "Roma has told us that there is the possibility of a sale, and we'll respect the decision they take.
"There are offers from PSG, Barcelona and Manchester United, and it's possible the club accepts one of those."
“There are offers from PSG, Barcelona and Manchester United, and it's possible the club accepts one of those”
Agent Roberto Calenda
French team Paris Saint-Germain were thought to be leading the race for the coveted former Corinthians star, with sources in Brazil revealing they had placed a bid worth around £30m.
Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City were keeping tabs on the Marquinhos situation but their interest was seemingly rebuffed when it was made clear Roma hadn't reached a decision about the young star's future early last week.
Marquinhos would be David Moyes' first big signing
A representative for the 19-year-old said: "It's a natural thing that there is a lot of interest in him, but Roma have not allowed us to talk to anyone.
"I can confirm I was in Barcelona, but it happened a long time ago and Marquinhos is not my only client."
The sought-after centre-half has only been in Italy for only a year but has attracted rave reviews for his assured performances.
Chelsea will have to spend £80m to land Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. The package would include £28m committed to a transfer fee, with his five-year contract on £200,000-a-week wages costing £52m. Sun
Rooney, 27, feels he is being "driven out" of Manchester United after "five months of negativity" which amounts to "constructive dismissal". Daily Mirror
Rooney is considering submitting a transfer request to try and force a move away from Old Trafford. Independent
Barcelona are prepared to sell midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, to Manchester United but the Red Devils must break their club record transfer fee and pay £31m to make it happen. Daily Mirror
Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, 25, will choose Manchester United over Arsenal should both clubs make a bid for him this summer. London Evening Standard
Luis Suarez's representatives believe Liverpool will only sell the 26-year-old when a £40m clause in the striker's contract is activated. The Uruguayan would prefer a move to Real Madrid, but Arsenal are the only team to have bid for him. Sun
Liverpool have approached Atletico Mineiro about winger Bernard, 20. The Brazil international has a release clause of approximately £20m, but a number of Champions League sides are believed to be interested in him. Daily Telegraph
Tottenham are chasing highly rated Real Betis winger Alvaro Vadillo, 18, who has been dubbed the 'new Cristiano Ronaldo'. Metro
Chelsea have targeted Bayern Munich's Luiz Gustavo, 25, as a midfield replacement for John Mikel Obi, 26, who is expected to depart Stamford Bridge this summer. talkSHIT
Sochaux and Algeria winger Ryad Boudebouz, 23, says he would be interested in a move to Southampton. Southern Daily Echo
Lyon could include France midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, 27, in their bid to beat Roma to the signing of 26-year-old Arsenal winger Gervinho. DSSC
Former West Ham and Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood, 33, is training with Millwall following his summer exit from Barnsley. Daily Star
Andre Moritz wants to join up with his former Crystal Palace manager, Dougie Freedman, at Bolton. The 26-year-old midfielder, who is available on a free transfer, held talks with the Scot prior to Tuesday's friendly with Rotherham. Bolton News
West Ham's hopes of landing Morgan Amalfitano, 28, have been dashed after Marseille accepted an offer from Olympiakos for the French midfielder. talkSHIT
Released by Arsenal, defender Sebastian Squillaci, 32, is to sign a one-year contract at French side SC Bastia if he passes a medical. Eurosport
Another French side, Montpellier, have reached a deal with Evian Thonon Gaillard to buy Tunisian international Saber Khlifa, 26. L'Equipe
Also in France, Marseille have had an offer for midfielder Gianneli Imbula, 20, accepted by second-tier side Guingamp. Le 10 Sport
Real Madrid have agreed to sell defender Raul Albiol, 27, to Valencia on a four-season deal for around £10m. El Pais
Roma have beaten Manchester United to the signature of PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman with the 23-year-old midfielder set to complete a £15m deal to join the Italian club. Gazzetta dello Sport
Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan wants to buy Croatian outfit NK Dubrovnik as a feeder team for the Welsh club. 24 Sata
Sol Campbell, 38, could make a shock return to Arsenal as manager one day, according to the retired England defender's agent. Metro
Aston Villa will fine Christian Benteke if the 22-year-old striker fails to report back at Bodymoor Heath on his agreed return date on Thursday. Birmingham Mail
A Vietnamese Arsenal fan ran alongside the team bus for five miles in the humidity of Hanoi before he was invited on by the players to get his shirt signed. Daily Mirror
Football fans can bid on auction website Ebay to play in the same team as Paul Scholes after the retired Manchester United star signed up for a charity game to raise money for his son's football team Stalybridge Celtic Juniors. DSSC
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has starred in a television advert for Uruguayan internet firm Abitab in which he pushes a colleague's keyboard away, shoves the photocopier and dives to the ground under minimal contact. Daily Mirror
MORE BOLLOX SOON
