Man City transfer news: Four depart in Deadline Day cull

(Image credit: David Ramos/Getty)

last updated 1 September 2016

Having forked out more that £160m this summer, Pep Guardiola spent Deadline Day taking an axe to his squad and the result was that by late on Wednesday night Joe Hart, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala had all left the Etihad.

Bony has joined Stoke City on loan, putting an end - temporarily, at least - to his Sky Blues nightmare, says the Manchester Evening News. Since arriving at the club in a £28m move from Swansea in January 2015, the Ivorian frontman has made just 15 league starts and has yet to feature under new boss Guardiola.

As for Nasri, the French playmaker is now on Sevilla's books after what the MEN describes as "a sit-down chat with Guardiola earlier this week". The Spanish gaffer told Nasri he wasn't part of his plans and the upshot is that the former Arsenal midfielder has gone to Sevilla for the rest of the season. "Nasri is the player we have been looking for. He is the final piece of the jigsaw," said Sevilla football director Monchi.

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Finally, the MEN reports that Joe Hart confirmed on Wednesday his move to Italian club Torino on a season-long loan. Describing the sudden departure of the 29-year-old England gloveman as "a shock", the paper carries comments made by Hart on signing the short-term deal: “Torino's offer came at the right moment, and in the right manner," he said. "I am very excited to test myself in an important and beautiful league such as Serie A."

As to why he'd chosen Torino, Hart explained that one of their staff, Attilio Lombardo, had worked at City under Roberto Mancini a few seasons ago. “I have already met Attilio Lombardo, with whom I worked in Manchester, winning a lot,” he said. “I hope to live the same emotions this year. I have read an interview about Toro and the coach wants humility and ambition. I like that. That's how I want to be.”

Speaking to French broadcaster SFR Sport, Nasri was asked if he could leave City before tomorrow's transfer deadline arrives. "Yes, there could still be movement," said the man who cost City £24m when they signed him five years ago. "It depends on a lot of things in fact. There's been a lot of speculation. Things that are true. Things that are false, too, because they've never shown me the door or anything like that... We're going to sit down, discuss it and see what's to be done."

Stones is the Citizens' eighth signing of the 2016 summer transfer window, and was suitably enthusiastic about his move when he was unveiled. "I'm absolutely delighted to sign for City and now the deal's done I'm looking forward to the next stage in my career," he said. "I know it will be tough getting a place in this team but I'm determined to become the best player I can be and help us to success."

One City star not going anywhere is Pablo Zabaleta with Goal.com reporting that despite intense interest from Roma the Argentine is staying at the Etihad. The 31-year-old defender, who's won two Premier League titles in his eight years with City, had been linked with a move away but the veteran full-back has laughed off the rumours, saying: "There was a lot of speculation - that came from the media. I don't know how many times I was away to Italy. It was incredible. Every day there was a new club."

According to the Sun, Guardiola, who on Saturday took his spending for the summer over the £100m mark with the capture of Atletico Nacional striker Marlos Moreno, does not believe Hart "has the quality of distribution needed to suit his style", and the paper even goes so far as to quote a City insider declaring: "Hart's place is definitely under threat next season and Pep is looking for another goalkeeper. He wants someone to come straight in who is good with their feet."

It's no secret that Guardiola is a big admirer of Ter Stegen and the German is his Plan A, although the City gaffer appreciates his £67m release clause may be beyond even a club of their riches. If that's the case then the Spanish manager will look to lure Claudio Bravo from the Camp Nou although the Sun warns the Great British public not to get too carried away at the moment as Guardiola is "willing to wait until the end of the transfer window to get a deal done".

Finally, the Daily Express says that the Sky Blues won't be getting their hands on Leonardo Bonucci with the paper claiming that the 29-year-old defender "has snubbed a move to City". Quoting Italian rag Gazzetta dello Sport, the Express says that Bonucci was offered a £6.8m-a-year contract at City - double his current wages at Juventus - but decided to remain in Italy because of concerns "over the amount of game time he would get in Manchester."

The 19-year-old forward, who's already won seven caps for his country despite his youth, isn't in the same price bracket as Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, both of whom have been signed by Pep Guardiola this week, and Talksport says that the Atletico Nacional teenager would set back the Citizens a trifling £4.75m. But it's also believed that the new City boss sees Moreno as one for the future and to that end would loan him out to Spanish club Deportivo la Coruna.

The news is less good for City concerning David Alaba with Talksport claiming that Real Madrid are "lining up a big-money move" for the Austrian, who was one of the stars of the Bayern Munich side during Guardiola's reign. He'd been quietly confident of enticing the 24-year-old to the Etihad but reports from Spain indicate that the versatile defender and midfielder will be prised from Munich by an eye-watering Real bid.

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