Man City transfer window 2015: £130m well spent for Citizens
The deposed champions were slick in their transfer dealings and got everyone on their shopping list except Pogba
Man City transfer news: Nasri off to Juventus, bid for Stones
30 July
Juventus are closing in on Samir Nasri, according to Italian newspaper Tuttosport. The Daily Express, in reporting the news, says that the French playmaker is seen by Juventus as the man to replace Arturo Vidal, who signed a deal with Bayern Munich earlier in the week.
Apparently Schalke's Julian Draxler had been identified as a possible target for Juve but for now the 28-year-old Nasri is top of their wishlist, and the Italian champions "are hopeful of finalising a deal". The Express claims the former Arsenal midfielder is "unsettled" at the Etihad and believes his days as a regular starter are numbered.
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City are also poised to enter the race for Everton defender John Stones, who is being courted by Chelsea. According to the Daily Mirror, City want Stones to add some solidity to a sometimes fragile back four and increase the number of British players on their books.
Manuel Pellegrini was prepared to let Stones spend this season at Goodison Park to develop his game before making a move next summer, but the interest of reigning champions Chelsea will force his hand and a bid from the Etihad is thought to be imminent.
Man City transfer news: £53m and six-year deal for De Bruyne
27 July
Manchester City will offer ex-Chelsea winger Kevin De Bruyne a six-year contract worth £53m. That's the eye-popping claim made by the Daily Star, the paper adding that "it will be the longest deal" City have ever proposed to a player but one that is illustrative of how much they wanted to sign the Wolfsburg and Belgium star.
The 24-year-old De Bruyne struggled to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League while at Chelsea three years ago in a short-lived spell at Stamford Bridge. But that doesn't seem to have deterred the Sky Blues although there is no official recognition of an approach from the German outfit.
But the Star says City are confident that a fee of £50m, "plus De Bruyne's £170,000-a-week wage", will get them their prize. The Star says that the contract would be for five years with an option of a 12-month extension should both parties agree.
Meanwhile Italian paper Corriere dello Sport reports that Inter Milan are chasing City left-back Gael Clichy. The French defender, who turned 30 on Sunday, was signed by Roberto Mancini from Arsenal when the latter was in charge at the Etihad, and Corriere dello Sport claims that Clichy is once more in demand. According to the paper Clichy "could well be released for a relatively low fee towards the end of the transfer window".
Man City transfer news: battle for United target Otamendia
22 July
Might Manchester City pip their neighbours to the hand of Valencia's Nicolas Otamendi? That's the claim of website Caughtoffside, which reports that Citizens boss Manuel Pellegrini is "leading his Premier League foe Louis van Gaal" in the race to sign the Argentine defender.
Apparently Pellegrini is now in the market for a central defender having forked out £49m on winger Raheem Sterling earlier in the month, who, incidentally, scored just three minutes into his debut in a friendly against Roma on Tuesday.
Citing Valencia sports daily Superdeporte, Caughtoffside reports that United boss Van Gaal wants to pair Otamendi with Sergio Ramos in the heart of his defence this season. However it's believed that neither City nor United are "prepared to meet the £35m release-clause that Valencia are demanding" and negotiations are ongoing about a price reduction.
City, though, are prepared to pay £40m for another midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, reports the Manchester Evening News. It says that City football director Txiki Begiristain is in Manchester rather than on tour with the club and his "homing in" on the Belgian star.
Bundesliga side Wolfsburg claim they are unwilling to sell, but will allow their man to leave if he requests a move. If that does happen they will demand "an unrealistic" £60m, says the MEN. "But City have their sights set on a limit of around £40m, and will tempt the former Chelsea player by trumping the new improved contract Wolfsburg have put on the table."
Man City transfer news: £49m deal with Liverpool for Sterling
13 July
It's been a long time coming but Manchester City have finally agreed a transfer fee for Liverpool striker Raheem Sterling.
The most protracted transfer saga of the year looks to be approaching a conclusion after Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers "reluctantly accepted a bid believed to be around £49m" for the England international, reports Sky Sports.
The broadcaster adds that the transfer is "subject to contract negotiations and a medical". Sterling was omitted from the Liverpool squad that jetted out to Thailand for a pre-season tour on Sunday and the 20-year-old apparently urged his representatives to push through a deal as soon as possible.
The sticking point was the fee with City believed to have offered in the region of £40m, well short of Liverpool’s asking price of £50. But if Sky Sports is correct, and the £49m deal goes through, then Sterling’s move to the Etihad will be the second most expensive signing involving a British player after Gareth Bale's £86m move from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013.
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