ROUND-UP
We’ve nearly reached the halfway point now of the January transfer window, but the rumours show no sign of slowing down quite yet.
After yesterday’s news of a reported move for Bayern Munich’s Dante, another defender has made his way back into the City headline inferno (sorry).
The Blues are said to have rekindled their interested in Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala, but must decide whether he is worth stumping up £40million – that one’s according to the Mirror.
Writes John Cross: “Manchester City have made a fresh move for Porto's highly-rated defender Eliaquim Mangala.
“But the Portuguese champions insist they will not sell the France international in the current window for less than his estimated £40million buy-out clause.
“That is likely to test even big-spending City's determination to land one of the most sought-after centre-halves in Europe.
“Porto accept they may have to part with Mangala this summer but City are interested in taking him now and must decide whether to follow up their enquiries with a bid to tempt the Portuguese club.”
Travelling from Portugal to Spain now, and reports that Peter Lim is close to taking over at Valencia have led talkSPORT to speculate that Edin Dzeko could move straight to the top of his shopping list if the deal is concluded.
The Bosnian striker has netted 13 times for City in all competitions this season, and has reportedly caught the attentions of the La Liga outfit.
The report reads: “The Singapore businessman is close to finalising his deal to takeover the La Liga club and will be present at the Vicente Calderon when they take on Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
“And he has once again pledged to make cash available for Juan Antonio Pizzi to spend before the window shuts. He told AS: "I hope my offer is accepted. I have €50 million available to spend this month."
“That could pave the way for Valencia to move for Dzeko, who has been a long-term target for Pizzi.”
Ifs, buts and maybes!
Finally for now, a reported move for Racing midfielder Bruno Zuculini has stalled – at least, if an article in CaughtOffside is to be believed!
Steven Green reports: “In the weeks leading up to the opening of the January transfer window City boss Manuel Pellegrini believed that he had struck a deal to bring the young Argentine to the Etihad Stadium in time for the new year, but his current side were hoping to keep hold of him until the summer.
“Personal terms between the player and the Premier League side are said to have already been agreed, but a fee is still to be agreed though it could possibly rise to £3m now.
“However, reports in the player’s native Argentina have suggested that Racing Club are hoping to keep a hold of the player with some sources saying that negotiations between the two are still a long way from being complete.”
Not complicated at all then….
Jovetic set for City return... finally!
Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that the Blues' forgotten man could come back into his team next week.
Whisper it quietly - but the Invisible Man could be back for City next week.
Stevan Jovetic has played only five times for the Blues since his £22m move from Fiorentina.
His continued absence has become a running joke among sections of the club's support.
However, speaking ahead of tonight's FA Cup replay with Blackburn Rovers boss Manuel Pellegrini revealed that he could be set for a return.
"Jovetic not this week," he said. "But next week him and Jack Rodwell will be fit."
Jovetic, 24, has made only one league start and has not been seen in a blue shirt since October.
That has led to speculation he might be homesick and looking for a way out of the Etihad Stadium - claims always denied by Pellegrini.
The Montenegrin suffered an unspecified leg muscle, originally described as a calf problem, then a hamstring but now said to be neither.
Jovetic's return would add to an already-formidable strikeforce.
Sergio Aguero has recovered from a calf injury suffered in December 14's 6-3 win over Arsenal andin his absence an improving Edin Dzeko partnered the freescoring Alvaro Negredo as City banged in 22 goals in eight matches.
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini eyes record trophy haul
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he wants to mark his debut season in England by securing all four trophies they are competing in.
City are second in the Premier League table, lead West Ham 6-0 in the Capital One Cup semi-final and face Barcelona in the Champions League last 16.
"It's difficult [to win all four] but we'll try," Pellegrini said ahead of Wednesday's FA Cup third round replay at home to Blackburn Rovers.
"It's important to have the mentality."
Manuel Pellegrini
•A defender, Pellegrini spent his entire playing career at Universidad Chile, making more than 450 appearances
•Retired in 1986 and took his first managerial role the following year at Palestino
•Has taken charge of 10 teams in total including Villarreal (2004-09), Real Madrid (2009-10) and Malaga
•Won league titles in Ecuador and Argentina and the Intertoto Cup with Villarreal in 2004
No club has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in one season.
City's neighbours Manchester United secured the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble in 1998-99.
But they failed to win the League Cup, losing to Tottenham in the quarter-finals.
"We know that during the season, with injuries and the amount of games you have to play, it is very difficult," added Pellegrini, whose side are one point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with 17 games remaining.
"That's why nobody has done it before. But I think we must have the mentality to try to do it.
"But we're not thinking of winning the four competitions, we are just thinking of winning the FA Cup tie against Blackburn.
"Then on Saturday we will try and beat Cardiff in the league.
"There are going to be five or six teams fighting for the Premier League until the end."
Pellegrini was confirmed as City manager after signing a three-year contract in June 2013.
The 60-year-old Chilean arrived from Malaga to replace Roberto Mancini, who was sacked the previous month after City failed to win a major trophy during the 2012-13 campaign.
Pellegrini insists he is taking the FA Cup seriously, with Argentina forward Sergio Aguero returning to the squad for Wednesday's replay with Blackburn after being out since 14 December with a calf injury.
City were held to a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park on 4 January.
"It's a very important cup because it is a very traditional cup," said Pellegrini.
"The most important thing for this team is to try and have the mentality that it doesn't matter what competition you are playing, it's important to play well and to try to win."
Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer banishes father Ian from Etihad Stadium
EX-MANCHESTER CITY star Ian Bowyer will be nowhere to be seen when his Blackburn boss son leads his team out at the Etihad Stadium tonight.
Gary Bowyer takes his Championship side to City for their FA Cup third-round replay after they claimed a shock 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.
But Ian - a two-time European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest - will be on a scouting mission for Rovers rather than taking in his kid's big night out.
Bowyer said: "With my dad having started at City it will be a proud moment to take my team there.
"But once we get out on the pitch and the game starts it is about the players and we are looking forward to it.
"My dad won't be there because I have got him scouting another game for us. He is paid to do a job for us so I have got him doing it!"
City have scored an incredible 59 goals in 15 home wins this season - including blasting four past Manchester United and six past Arsenal and Tottenham.
Star striker Sergio Aguero is set to make his comeback from a calf injury.
But Bowyer maintains that his Rovers players want to come up against City's biggest names.
He added: "I hope Aguero is back, seriously. That would be great.
"We played against Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko in the first tie and for our centre halves that was a fantastic challenge and if Aguero is playing that it presents them with a different challenge.
"For us it is about learning about our players in these games. No one expects us to win so we can go there and see what our lads are made of.
"I would personally like to see all the big name players on the team-sheet when it gets handed in. Our lads would prefer it as well because we have nothing to lose."
Man City to reignite interest in £42m-rated Porto star
Manchester City are ready to reignite their interest in £42m-rated Eliaquim Mangala, according to reports in France.
L'Equipe claim that City are ready to splash the cash to bring in the Porto star, who is also wanted by French big-spenders PSG and Monaco.
The 22-year-old defender has been tipped to become one of the world's very best but Porto have been trying desperately to keep hold of him.
The Portuguese club have so far resisted all offers and insisted that they would not sell for any less than his £42m buy-out clause - a staggering fee for a relatively unproven prospect.
That might not put off the three clubs currently leading the chase, given their financial backing. Sky's TalkSHIT
Man City: Trio chase City left-back
Juventus, Inter Milan and Zenit Saint Petersburg are being linked with moves for Manchester City's Aleksandar Kolarov.
Russian source Izvestia suggests that Zenit could be stepping up their interest in the Serbian international, who has been linked with an exit from the Etihad Stadium on several occasions in recent months.
The 28-year-old has not always been a regular since joining City from Lazio, though his improved form this season has seen him edge Gael Clichy for a spot in the starting lineup in recent matches.
It seems unlikely that Manuel Pellegrini would let a key player go as his side chase the Premier League title this season, but Zenit have been successful in making some big-name purchases in recent times.
The Russian giants notably signed Hulk from Porto, beating a host of Europe's top clubs to the Brazilian's signature.
Manuel Pellegrini shocked at controversy surrounding game at St James' Park
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is surprised by the controversy still surrounding his side's win at Newcastle on Sunday
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is surprised by the controversy still surrounding his side’s win at Newcastle on Sunday.
City left St James’ Park with a 2-0 victory, but the story might have been different had Cheick Tiote not seen a goal contentiously ruled out.
Tiote thought he had made the score 1-1 with a superb long-range strike, but Yoan Gouffran, who had been stood in an offside position, was adjudged to be interfering with play.
Tiote and Newcastle celebrated vigorously and an argument ensued on the touchline when it became clear referee Mike Jones had not given the goal.
The shot went in after Gouffran ducked out of its way and it is thought Jones believed the Newcastle player was obscuring City goalkeeper Joe Hart’s view.
For Pellegrini there was no doubt Gouffran was offside.
The Chilean said: “I am surprised that someone can say that was not an offside, that’s incredible.
“At the beginning of the season the rules on offside changed and a lot of teams put players in front of the goalkeeper, allowing him to see the ball but always be standing there. The referees said that was offside. If you have three players and one moves and steps aside so the ball doesn’t hit him, I don’t understand how one person can say that’s not offside.”
Of far more concern to Pellegrini was the serious knee injury suffered by playmaker Samir Nasri in the same game. Nasri expects to be out for around eight weeks after damaging ligaments following a bad tackle from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.
In a second controversial decision of the afternoon, Jones only showed Yanga-Mbiwa a yellow card. Pellegrini said: “I said after the game it was an unfair kick and he didn’t need to do it. He just tried to make a foul to stop the counter-attack and that is normal but the second kick was unfair.”
GOLDEN BOLLOX 15-1-2010
Roberto Mancini is ready to rival Manchester United for the signature of £25 million-rated Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is keen to sign Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik Photo: EPA Slovakia international Hamsik, 22, is a leading target for United this summer and has been identified by Sir Alex Ferguson as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes. But Manchester City manager Mancini could thwart United’s plans after he admitted that he still regrets failing to lure Hamsik to Inter Milan during his reign as coach at the Italian side. Mancini said: “When I coached Inter, I asked for Hamsik. I really wanted him, but Napoli were quicker than us. "I am not at all surprised that the major European clubs are interested in him. He is a real talent.”
Chelsea have been ordered to pay Manchester City an initial fee of £3.5million for Daniel Sturridge with the striker's price tag posisbly eventually rising to as much as twice that amount. A Professional Football Compensation Committee hearing ruled that additional payments of £500,000 must be paid after Sturridge played each of ten, 20, 30 and 40 first-team appearances for Chelsea in all competitions. Chelsea must also pay a further £1million if Sturridge plays for England and City will receive a 15 per cent fee sell-on fee if he ever leaves Stamford Bridge. The 20-year-old moved to Chelsea in July 2009 on a four-year deal after his contract expired at Eastlands.
"We are content with the outcome of today's tribunal regarding Daniel Sturridge's transfer from Manchester City," Chelsea said in a statement. "The initial fee is very close to what we first offered. "Any subsequent payments are directly linked to the success of the player and that is satisfactory to us." England Under-21 international Sturridge scored six goals in 32 appearances for City and has found the net twice in eight games for Chelsea so far this season.
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[/spoiler]Stoke City add Guidetti, sign Ireland in their bid to beat the drop
Stoke City’s first business of the January transfer window in terms of incomings was to complete a double deal, yet only one of the pair is a new face that will be available to Mark Hughes this weekend. Due to Premier League rules, clubs are allowed just two domestic loans and the limit had been reached – so something had to happen in order for another player to join temporarily.
The club elected to make Stephen Ireland’s (stats) loan move from Aston Villa permanent mid-way through his temporary spell. Speaking to Stoke’s official website, Hughes said: “Stephen is a talented footballer and has shown what he’s capable of since he joined us. We’re delighted to have made his switch a permanent arrangement as it also gives us the opportunity to bring in another player on loan.”
The addition is Manchester City’s John Guidetti, joining on loan until the end of the season. The once-capped Sweden international Guidetti could provide a big upgrade in front of goal, as he is attempting to make his mark in the Premier League after being stuck behind Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko et al at the Etihad Stadium – not forgetting that his career has been derailed by injury and illness. Two seasons ago, the 21-year-old striker was at Feyenoord and took the Eredivisie by storm – scoring 20 goals in 23 appearances. However, he’s appeared on the City bench just twice over the last 18 months, so the move should provide him with some much-needed first team football.
Stephen Ireland did enough at the club to persuade Mark Hughes to keep him on a permanent basis. Ireland is currently just 41 minutes of football away from surpassing his minutes played total from last season (781) and his two Premier League goals are more than his last three seasons combined. He’s also hitting the target with greater frequency (a shots on target percentage of 37.50% – higher than each of his last four seasons) as he’s attempted 75.00% of his shots from inside the box. Ireland has also shown a creative side with 1.58 shot assists per 90 minutes – again a season best in comparison to the last four seasons. This is all over a small sample size so it’s too soon to declare him as ‘back’. Regardless, it’s a solid risk by Mark Hughes – he knows the player well from his Manchester City and has elected to take a further gamble on the player.
Adding an attacker was a primary area of concern for Mark Hughes, given that the club’s top scorers are Charlie Adam and Peter Crouch with just five and four goals respectively – in a team that has scored just 22 goals in 21 game this season. They’re currently sat in 12 place with 22 points yet are just five points off the bottom – as the BSports projections have them as the seventh favourite to go down with a relegation forecast of 11.4%.
Stoke City are unlikely to be done at this point, as USA international Juan Agudelo announced on his personal twitter account that he was joining the club from MLS side the New England Revolutions – and even he may not be the end of their January business. While the Stephen Ireland move is just an alteration of the terms of his deal, John Guidetti offers the potential upgrade – although given his lack of health and experience over the last 18 months, exactly what this upgrade is remains to be seen.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to sign Schalke playmaker Julian Draxler, 20, for £35m and then turn him into the new Robin van Persie. Daily Mirror
Manchester United will not be allowed to re-sign midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus in January, but a deal for the 20-year-old could be revived in the summer. Manchester Evening News
But Pogba is bitter about his time at Old Trafford and refuses to return to the club. Independent
Liverpool have joined the race to sign Porto midfielder Fernando, 26. Daily Express
Turkish club Galatasaray want to sign Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam, 28, for £5m. DSSC
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has been told he must pay £6.5m to land Argentine forward Ignacio Scocco, 28, from Internacional. Daily Star
Tottenham Hotspur may be preparing to take a £1.5m loss on Etienne Capoue just six months after signing the 25-year-old French midfielder from Toulouse for £9m. Daily Express
The White Hart Lane club are also set to let midfielder Lewis Holtby leave. The 23-year-old only signed for them last January from Schalke, who are believed to be interested in taking him back. DSSC
Everton are hopeful 29-year-old left-back Leighton Baines, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, will sign a new deal with the club which will keep him at Goodison Park for the rest of his career. Daily Express
Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on bringing in Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha, 21, and West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison, 20, to help the club's relegation fight. Guardian
Spanish clubs Valencia and Real Betis want to sign 26-year-old Liverpool striker Iago Aspas, who signed for the Reds from Celta Vigo for £7m last summer, on loan. Daily Mirror
Barcelona star Lionel Messi says he expects to be back to his best for the Spanish club's last-16 Champions League knockout tie against Manchester City in February. Daily Telegraph
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has shown his faith in manager Jose Mourinho by allowing him to decide whether the club offer Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole new contracts. Daily Telegraph
Mourinho, meanwhile, claims to have "inside information" that all is not well at Manchester United, although the Old Trafford club's manager David Moyes is not under pressure. DSSC
Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been told he has a job at Cardiff for the next five years by chairman Mehmet Dalman. Daily Star
Chelsea could sell 26-year-old centre-back David Luiz to Barcelona for 35 million euros (£29m), after having rejected the Catalan club's earlier offer of 25 million euros (£21m) last summer. Lefigaro
Newcastle and Stoke City are emerging as potential destinations for Borussia Monchengladbach's Swiss forward Luuk de Jong, 23. Kicker
Vitor Pereira, coach of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahly, lost his cool with the club's media officer, who tried to restrict his answers during a heated press conference. Metro
GOLDEN BOLLOX 15-1-2011
Inter line up £17m summer swoop for Man City star
Inter Milan are lining up a £17million summer bid for Gareth Barry, according to sources in Italy.
The Manchester City midfielder is top of a long list of transfer targets drawn up by new Inter manager Leonardo.
But, with Barry under contract at Eastlands until 2014, Inter know they will have to offer a huge fee to land him.
It is understood the Serie A champions might be prepared to up their opening offer of £17m if it is rejected by the club.
And they are also ready to negotiate a possible player-swap deal for the 29-year-old England midfielder.
Bolton plotting Wright-Phillips rescue mission
Bolton boss Owen Coyle wants to rescue forgotten star Shaun Wright-Phillips from his Manchester City nightmare.
The England international is one of a number of fringe players being moved on in an Eastlands clear-out.
Coyle has made his interest known and hopes to agree a loan deal before the transfer window shuts.
Wright-Phillips, 29, has told pals he likes Bolton’s style of football and Coyle reacted to the tip by contacting City.
The mega-rich outfit want his wages paid in full but could compromise because the player seems more interested in Bolton than main rival bidders Fulham.
Cottagers boss Mark Hughes wants to land Wright-Phillips, a player he took back to Eastlands, but he is struggling to raise the cash to cover his massive wages.
Coyle will step in if the deal is right and would also find a way of getting Wright-Phillips into his side that has been so successful this season.
The Eastlands reshuffle means Wigan boss Roberto Martinez may get his wish to sign classy Belgian Dedryck Boyata on loan.
Martinez wants him to steady a shaky Latics defence, but the move will depend on him ‘losing’ one of his temporary signings – Bolton keeper Ali Al Habsi or Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley.
Boyata will be allowed to leave by City boss Roberto Mancini, who is keen to give him first-team experience for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old has made a handful of appearances for City but his confidence was rocked after his red card in the 3-0 home humbling by Arsenal, and Mancini wants to see him progress away from Eastlands.
Belgian side Standard Liege have also asked about Boyata, but City would prefer him to stay in England.
