Man City transfer news: Inter eye double deal for David Silva and Eliaquim Mangala
Ambitious Italian club will go up against Milan rivals for Silva’s signature
There’s an exclusive in the Daily Express, or so the paper claims, that Inter Milan want David Silva and Eliaquim Mangala in a “double deal”.
Silva’s future at the Etihad was questioned last week, with the veteran Spanish sharpshooter linked to Inter by one or two papers, but the Express says the ambitious Italian club are also interested in Mangala.
Silva, who is allegedly “stalling” on penning a new deal with the Premier League leaders because they’re refusing to meet his £160,000-a-week wage demands, is also on AC Milan’s radar, but Inter intend to outbid their bitter rivals for the 31-year-old playmaker.
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As for Mangala, the Express claims that Inter may be in a better position to lure him from the Etihad with the French defender struggling for game time this season. The paper says that the 26-year-old is “keen on reviving his career with a move to Italy” and that City are also willing to let him go as they look to trim their wage bill.
With Benjamin Mendy out for seven months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, rumours abound as to who the Sky Blues will bring in as a replacement. The Bleacher Report cites Aaron Martin as a possible target.
The Espanyol left-back, who is just 20, was apparently a target for City in the summer. Although no deal was agreed, the Spanish press say Pep Guardiola will come calling in January. With a buyout clause of £26.5million, Martin doesn’t come cheap but the City boss sees him as a long-term investment.
David Silva tempted by move to AC Milan
29 September
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David Silva has put his contract extension talks on hold with the Sky Blues as he eyes a move to AC Milan, claims The Sun.
The paper says Pep Guardiola wants to secure the Spaniard’s future after his impressive start to the season but apparently Silva is considering “a new challenge in Italy”.
With six assists to his name already this season, Silva is a key part of Guardiola’s Etihad plans and, with under two years to run on his current deal, City “are keen for him to extend”. But reports from Italy suggest the 31-year-old is tempted by one last hurrah in Italy and AC Milan are said to be ready to offer him the opportunity.
The veteran playmaker arrived at City in 2010 from Valencia but, with AC Milan determined to replace Juventus as the kings of Italian footbal,l they would love to get their hands on Silva.
Signing Leonardo Bonucci and Hakan Calhanoglu in the summer was a statement of their intent and they have a clear run now at Silva after Inter Milan dropped out of the race to concentrate on prising Mesut Ozil from Arsenal.
The Daily Express also carries the story and says that City, for whom Silva has scored more 50 goals in more than 300 appearances, will demand a hefty sum in return for selling the Spanish playmaker. He cost them £30m in 2010 and the Express says the Sky Blues “would expect to at least recoup their outlay”.
Gabriel Jesus denies new contract rumours
28 September
Gabriel Jesus has denied any knowledge that the Sky Blues are ready to offer a new and improved deal to pin him down to the Etihad.
The 20-year-old Brazilian has scored 12 goals in 19 appearances for City since arriving from Palmeiras in January and Pep Guardiola is urging the Sky Blues board to secure his loyalty, in the face of rumours from Spain that Barcelona and Real Madrid are circling.
The Daily Mail reports that when the South American sharpshooter was asked about the possibility of a new deal, Jesus replied: “I don’t know anything about it. Nothing came to me yet. City did not talk to me about it, neither my agent. So there is nothing in process.”
Jesus, who has established a formidable partnership with Sergio Aguero, has four years left on his current deal but has been rotated in recent months by Guardiola. There have been insinuations that Jesus would like to start more regularly but he dismissed the idea he was unhappy with his manager’s rotation policy.
He said: “If one player is in a better moment, I have to respect that. I’m really okay with that, I accept it.”
Meanwhile reports from Germany suggest that Guardiola has identified the player to replace Benjamin Mendy, who is out for several months with a serious knee injury.
The defender in question is Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro, says Fussball.com.
The Portuguese blocker has been making a name for himself in the Bundesliga with his composed displays and if Mendy’s prognosis is as bad as expected - and he’s out for the rest of the season - then City will move for the 23-year-old Guerreiro in January.
Man City keen to offer Raheem Sterling a new contract
26 September
Manchester City are ready to offer Raheem Sterling a new deal to “ward off interest” from Arsenal, reports The Sun.
The England winger, who’s expected to feature this evening when the Sky Blues host Shakhtar Donetsk in their Champions League clash, has been linked with the Gunners in recent weeks. Several outlets claim that Arsene Wenger might be willing to let City have Alexis Sanchez if they give him Sterling in return.
That doesn’t seem to fit into Pep Guardiola’s plans, however. The Sun claims that the City boss is “keen on extending” the England forward’s deal.
The Spanish gaffer is a big fan of Sterling and believes the 22-year-old has yet to reach his potential, hence his determination to keep hold of him in the face of interest from Arsenal.
Sterling has nearly three years to run on his £200,000-a-week City contract but while Guardiola remains ready to do business with Arsenal over Sanchez he will not include the England winger in any possible January deal.
There’s more good news for City fans from ESPN with the broadcaster reporting that Kevin De Bruyne is ready to extend his contract at the Etihad.
The 26-year-old, who arrived in Manchester from Wolfsburg in 2015 in a £54million deal, still has four years to run on his current contract. But according to ESPN, sources inside City have told them the club wants to tie him down to a long-term deal.
Asked about the story, the Belgian replied: “They have spoken with [agent Patrick de Koster] in the summer and they said give us time to make the transfers and we speak after the summer. That will soon happen, I think... it’s nice the club have so much confidence in me.”
PSG now favourites to sign Alexis Sanchez
22 September
The Diego Costa saga may be on the brink of being shut down but the Alexis Sanchez soap opera continues to roll on with Paris Saint-Germain the latest club to be named favourites for the Chilean’s signature in January.
At the start of the week Manchester United were linked with the Arsenal frontman, then Manchester City were back in the driving seat, but The Sun claims that the Sky Blues “fear” he could be snapped up by PSG after Christmas.
It’s reported that PSG are “ramping up their interest and want him to partner Neymar and Kylian Mbappe upfront” in an attack that would have the rest of Europe trembling.
Money is no object to the Paris outfit these days and the Sun alleges that Sanchez has already met PSG chiefs to discuss a potential transfer.
During the course of the conversation the South American “demanded a staggering £400,000-a-week”, which was too much even for a club of their wealth. But what they did offer Sanchez was “a hefty signing-on fee” and a weekly wage of £275,000.
That is apparently more than City can offer and as a result Pep Guardiola is increasingly concerned that he might miss out on Sanchez. The only thing that might still swing it in the Citizens favour is the working relationship between Guardiola and the Chilean, which began at Barcelona and which, according to some sources, is something Sanchez is keen to resurrect.
What is for certain, says the Sun, is Sanchez’s departure from the Emirates with the paper claiming that Gunners gaffer Arsene Wenger has “accepted he is leaving” and will likely accept in the region of £20million in January from whoever comes calling.
Toby Alderweireld lined up to replace Vincent Kompany
11 September
With Vincent Kompany sidelined once more with injury, City gaffer Pep Guardiola is searching for a long-term replacement for his increasingly fragile defender.
The Sun reckons that the Spaniard may have settled on Tottenham stopper Toby Alderweireld and an irresistible offer will be tabled to Tottenham next year. How much? The Sun says £60million should be enough to weaken the resolve of Spurs, who have recently lost Kyle Walker to the Sky Blues.
Alderweireld has been scouted by City on several occasions this year as Guardiola prepares to break the news to Kompany that his glory days are a thing of the past.
The Belgian defender has been plagued by injury in the past two years, managing just 11 league games last season, and it’s unlikely the 31-year-old will never again be the force he was.
Step forward Alderweireld, says the Sun, who is allegedly in a contract stand-off with Spurs. The 28-year-old, also Belgian, has yet to sign a new deal with the Lilywhites and last week his agent, Stijn Francis, made his feelings when he fumed that Alderweireld “deserves either a correct contract from Tottenham or a transfer”.
Meanwhile the Daily Mail says that Arsenal haven’t given up the ghost on Raheem Sterling, despite their failure to prise the England frontman from the Etihad last week.
Nor for that matter have City closed the door to Alexis Sanchez and the Mail believes that the two clubs will resume negotiations before Christmas in the hope of reaching an agreement that will see Sanchez head to City and Sterling make the move south to the Emirates.
Messi signing is 'impossible'
25 August
Any lingering thoughts that Manchester City might be able to make a sensational swoop for Lionel Messi have been put to bed by Txiki Begiristain.
Speaking in Monaco after the Champions League draw, City's director of football was asked about the Messi rumours by ESPN. "Come on, it's impossible," said Begiristain. "He will stay at Barcelona."
And as for Monaco ace Kylian Mbappe, who was linked to City earlier in the month, Begiristain said they had been beaten to his signature by Paris Saint-Germain.
"We are out of the race, it is impossible to do it with the time remaining... when you try to get those kind of players you have to move much earlier. It's impossible to do it now in the last days."
Meanwhile, there's a €10miilion deficit between what City have offered Espanyol for Aaron Martin and what the Spanish club are asking.
The Sun says that the La Liga outfit have slapped a €30m asking price on the 20-year-old defender, rated one of the most promised players in his position in Spain, but thus far City have only tabled a €20m bid.
It's claimed that Barcelona have also been sniffing around Martin but Sky Blues boss Pep Guardiola is keen to bring the young defender to the Etihad.
Apparently he's been on "City’s radar for several months" but the club aren't sure if they're ready to pay such a sum for someone so young.
They had better make a decision soon, however, says the Sun, because Barcelona are loitering with intent for the left-back.
Capable of also playing in midfield, Martin's versatility is what attracted Guardiola and the City manager believes he has the potential to become a world-class defender in the coming years.
Martin, who has played for Spain at U19 level, was also scouted by Jose Mourinho but the United manager has reportedly cooled in his interest, leaving Barcelona and City to fight it out for his signature.
Man City transfer news: Will it be Sanchez or Messi?
21 August
There are mixed messages coming from Manchester as to which striker the Sky Blues might buy between now and the end of the transfer period on Thursday week.
The Daily Mirror claims that the Sky Blues, who play Everton at home this evening, are ready to offer Arsenal £70m for Chilean marksman Alexis Sanchez, but both The Sun and the Daily Express claim that in fact City have their eye on Lionel Messi.
The former, citing reports emerging from France, claim that the Barcelona ace has not signed a contract extension and as a result City "are ready to break the world transfer record and meet Lionel Messi’s £275million buy-out clause".
Pep Guardiola and Messi enjoyed a fruitful relationship when the City boss was in charge at the Camp Nou and it's alleged that the Argentine feels Barca is a club on the slide after a decade of dominance.
The Express says that French broadcaster Canal Plus and Eurosport broke the news of the audacious swoop by City and according to the paper City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan "started preparations for a bid for Messi on Friday."
Messi, who turned 30 in July, was first linked to the Etihad last season, after he and his father were handed 21-month suspended prison sentences by a Catalan court over their failure to cough up £3.4 million of tax on Messi’s image rights, and that is another factor in his unsettled state of mind, as is the departure last month of friend and teammate Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record £200m move.
The Spanish rag Mundo Deportivo claimed on Sunday night that Messi will stay at the Camp Nou but other sources in Spain report that initial meetings have already taken place between the two clubs.
Man City transfer news: Hart in shock United link
03 July
So desperate are the Sky Blues to get shot of Joe Hart that they could offload the unwanted keeper to Manchester United.
That's the astonishing claim in the Daily Express, with the paper claiming that City manager Pep Guardiola has "given the green light" for Hart to make the move to Old Trafford.
The paper says that City want to offload Hart this summer but are having trouble finding any takers on account of his £125,000-a-week wages, not to mention their £25m asking price.
West Ham United and Everton have both gone cold on the idea of signing the England keeper for financial reasons, with Hart's alleged refusal to countenance a loan move another reason for potential deals breaking down.
But according to the Express Hart, who reports at the Etihad today for the start of pre-season training after spending last season on loan with Italian outfit Torino, is ready to move across Manchester to United.
It's expected at Old Trafford that David de Gea will move to Real Madrid at some point this month, and Jose Mourinho has identified Hart as his replacement. If the moves come off, the 30-year-old shot-stopper will become the first player to cross the Manchester divide since Owen Hargreaves went from Red Devil to Sky Blue five years ago.
And Hart isn't the only goalkeeper likely to leave the Etihad, with BBC Sport one of several outlets to report that Premier League champions Chelsea have signed Willy Caballero on a free transfer.
The Argentine was released by City last month, having made 26 appearances since arriving from Malaga in 2014, but whereas Guardiola seems to have lost confidence in the 35-year-old, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte sees the South American as the man to replace Asmir Begovic, who moved from Stamford Bridge to Bournemouth in May.
Man City transfer news: Pep closes in on deal for Kyle Walker
30 June
Talks are underway between Tottenham and the Sky Blues with Kyle Walker the object of the discussions. According to BBC Sport, "negotiations for the England international are at an early stage and no fee has been agreed" but a move a deal does seems likely for the 27-year-old full-back.
Walker has long been linked with a move from White Hart Lane to the Etihad with papers suggesting that he wished to return to the north of England to be close to his family.
The England star joined Spurs from Sheffield United in 2009 in a £3m deal, and has made 183 Premier League appearances for the Lilywhites, but the Daily Mirror alleges that recently his relationship with Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has "deteriorated irreparably" this past year.
Nonetheless the north London outfit don't intend to let Walker go on the cheap with the Mirror claiming that they "will not accept less than £50 million".
That will test the resolve of City boss Pep Guardiola but having released Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy in recent weeks the Spaniard is in desperate need of back-four replacements and he is expected to meet Tottenham's asking price.
As for Spurs, the Mirror says that while Pochettino is eyeing up Porto's Ricardo Pereira and Ajax defender 25-year-old Joel Veltman as possible additions to his squad, the man to replace Walker next season will be Kieran Trippier.
The 26-year-old supplanted Walker in the Spurs starting line-up last season and it's reported that Trippier has recently signed a new five-year deal worth £65,000-a-week.
Man City transfer news: Pep plans Koscielny ‘mega-bid’
28 June
Reports from France suggest that Man City are in a three-way tussle to sign Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.
The French stopper has been a mainstay of the Gunners back four in recent years but rumours emerged at the end of last season indicating that he was growing tired of the club's perennial underachievement.
Now The Sun quotes French broadcaster Telefoot in reporting that the 31-year-old is being chased by City boss Pep Guardiola.
It's no secret that Guardiola wants to reinforce his defence ahead of next season, but he'll have to fight off interest from AC Milan and Marseille.
According to The Sun, Koscielny’s Arsenal contract has three years to run so it will "take a mega-bid of £30m-plus for the Gunners to even consider selling". But that's not a price to put City off, and Guardiola is to test the Gunners’ resolve with a big money offer for the Frenchman.
Meanwhile, Dani Alves has confirmed his departure from Juventus amid fervent speculation that he is poised to sign for City.
Sky Sports is one of several outlets to report that the veteran defender has said arrivederci to the Italian champions after one season in Turin. Thanking for the club for their support, the 34-year-old Brazilian said: "Today our professional relationship ends and I will carry with me all of those who with love and a true heart make Juve a great club."
Sky Sports claims that sources have indicated that City "are interested in reuniting Alves with his former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola at the Etihad", although the player himself said in his farewell statement only that "I love football and money will never take me to any other place”.
Man City transfer news: Kyle Walker wants to return north
6 June
Spurs and England defender Kyle Walker could be a Sky Blue within a fortnight, claims the Manchester Evening News.
It's been an open secret for a while in the city that Pep Guardiola is a fan of the Tottenham man and the paper says that the England right-back "has decided to move to the Etihad so that he can be closer to his family, who still live in Sheffield".
Walker is currently with the England squad as they prepare for their forthcoming fixtures against Scotland and France but according to the MEN City will look to seal the deal before the month is out so that Walker can get "acclimatised to Guardiola's way of working ahead of the summer tour in July".
Meanwhile the MEN has some less encouraging news for the Citizens with their report that they have lost out in their bid to sign PSG teenager Dan-Axel Zagadou, regarded as one of the most promising defenders in Europe.
Borussia Dortmund have announced they've won the race to sign the 18-year-old Zagadou, which will mean Guardiola will have to go back in the transfer market as he looks to rebuild his defence ahead of next season.
Another player who won't be part of that new-look backline in Manchester is Virgil van Dijk. City were prepared to offer the Southampton defender a huge salary at the Etihad but Sky Sports reports that the Dutchman has chosen to move to Liverpool rather than City.
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Man City transfer news: £60m Van Dijk begins summer spree
5 June
It's the Saints for City as far as Virgil van Dijk is concerned with the Daily Express claiming that the Dutch defender has decided to accept the Sky Blues offer of gainful employment over interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.
The trio of powerhouses have all been determined to snap up the 25-year-old centre-half but according to the Express he's plumped for City in the belief the Etihad outfit offers him the best chance of developing his career.
But there's also the money to consider. And the paper claims that the move north will cost City in the region of £60m, with van Dijk reportedly set to "earn wages of £200,000-a-week". That would make him the world's most expensive defender, surpassing the £50m that Paris Saint-Germain paid Chelsea for David Luiz.
Meanwhile the Daily Mirror claims that the £60m for van Dijk represent a small slice of the "sensational £300m" that Pep Guardiola will shell out on the mother of all spending sprees this summer.
Having already bagged Bernardo Silva of Monaco in a £43m deal, and with the club ready to fork out £35m for Benfica gloveman Ederson, the Mirror says that City "will continue to splash the cash" in the months ahead.
Among the players on Guardiola's shopping list are Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy, Arsenal frontman Alexis Sanchez and Tottenham defender Kyle Walker. To finance the astonishing splashing of cash, Guardiola will raise around £100m by slashing the club’s existing wage bill by offloading several players deemed "surplus to requirements".
Those likely to be emptying their locker before too long are Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Fernando, Fabian Delph, Nolito, Aaron Mooy and Jason Denayer.