Man City transfer news: Four depart in Deadline Day cull

Man City transfer news: Neymar prefers Madrid to Manchester

04 March

Manchester City's lingering hopes of signing Neymar in the summer have been vaporised by the Brazilian frontman in an interview with Brazilian broadcaster UOL and picked up on by The Sun.

The Barcelona striker had been linked with a move to City or United in the summer, but the 24-year-old made it clear that he has more time for Madrid than Manchester when asked about his footballing affections.

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Asked who he'd like to see win the Champions League out of Real Madrid and Manchester City, the Barcelona forward said he would support arch rivals Madrid against City.

That withering response, declares the Sun, "puts paid to rumours that Neymar could jilt Barca for the Sky Blues in the summer". It had been whispered that City's incoming manager, Pep Guardiola, would pull the right strings to make the move happen but now it appears that City have as much hope of landing Neymar as they do overhauling Leicester.

So what about another Barcelona star? According to Talksport City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have "all enquired over the availability" of Sergio Busquets.

The midfielder is expected to discuss a new contract with the Spanish giants in the summer in the hope of securing "a deal which will see wages equal that of the club's highest earners".

But the noises coming from the Camp Nou board haven't been that enthusiastic, and as a result the two Manchester clubs and PSG are all keeping a close eye on the situation. Talksport says that City are "particularly keen and willing to spend over £60m for Busquets' signature"

Man City transfer news: Gerard Pique turns down Guardiola

1 March

Love is in the air and that's the reason Manchester City have no chance of seeing Gerard Pique at the Etihad next season.

Rumours have been growing in recent weeks that the veteran Barcelona defender could follow former gaffer Pep Guardiola to City this summer, but that just ain't the case. Talksport reports that the Spain centre-back has pooh-poohed the idea of linking up with his former Barcelona manager because of his affection for the red half of the city.

"My love for Manchester United is too great for me to sign for City, even though Pep is a great coach," said Pique, who was an Old Trafford player between 2004 and 2008. Asked if that meant he might one day consider returning to the Red Devils, Pique replied: "I'm very happy in Barcelona... I would like to try a different league when I've got a few years to go before retiring. I don't know if it will be Colombia, I'd like that for Shakira [his singer girlfriend], but nobody can predict the future."

Meanwhile, Talksport claims that Atletico Madrid are "eyeing up a move" for Stevan Jovetic.

The 26-year-old striker is currently on an 18-month loan at Inter Milan and it was initially believed the Italian outfit wanted to make the move permanent. But according to Talksport Inter have gone cold on the Montenegrin marksman because they "don't want to pay the £12m" to take him off the Citizens' hands.

As a result Atletico are monitoring the situation and see Jovetic as the man to replace Jackson Martinez, who left for China in January.

Man City transfer news: Sergio Aguero set for new £52m deal

29 February

With the Capital One Cup winging its way north, fans of Manchester City have another reason to celebrate as Sergio Aguero reportedly "ready to pledge his future" to the Citizens with an eye-watering £52m deal.

Negotiations are well underway, reports The Sun, and the Argentine striker is on the brink of agreeing a £250,000-a-week, four-year contract which will keep him at the Etihad until 2020. That's a £30,000-a-week hike in his wages which, says the Sun, will "make him City's highest-paid player ever".

There's nothing like talk of a "summer transfer scrap" to get the juices flowing, and the Sun duly obliges with its exclusive that Manchester City and Chelsea are set to clash over Edinson Cavani.

The Paris Saint Germain striker has his "heart set" on a move to England after becoming unsettled in the French capital and the Sun says the two Premier League powerhouses "have been sounded out over a deal".

PSG are thought to want £30m for the Uruguayan sharpshooter and it's believed that Pep Guardiola, City's manager elect, is keen for a deal to go through. So, too, is Antonio Conte who is expected to be unveiled as the new Chelsea manager before the end of the season.

Man City transfer news: Guardiola to hijack Chelsea Bazoer deal

26 February

Chelsea could be the victims of Pep Guardiola's first big statement in the transfer market as Manchester City boss, with the Daily Mirror reporting that the Spaniard wants "to hijack" the Blues' move for Dutch wonderkid Riechedly Bazoer.

He's described in such extravagant terms by the paper because he's just 19, but already regarded as one of the brightest talents in Holland.

It's believed Ajax are "in advanced talks" with Chelsea about a £24m summer deal with Roman Abramovich keen to deliver a welcoming present to Antonio Conte, the man widely expected to be shortly unveiled as the club's next manager.

The Mirror reports that Bazoer’s brother Irchandley, who also acts as his agent, was at Chelsea’s Cobham HQ last week and discussed the situation with officials. But Guardiola, who arrives at the Etihad in the summer "is a fan of the teenager" and has allegedly informed City he wants the young playmaker.

That's likely to spark a summer bidding war with Napoli also said to be interested, and rumours that Barcelona are also in the mix.

Man City transfer news: Guardiola in shock move for Arteta

23 February

As the speculation continues over who will become Pep Guardiola's first signing as Manchester City boss, Goal.com has thrown an unexpected name into the mix, claiming that Guardiola is monitoring the situation of Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta with a view to inviting the Spaniard to join Manchester City's backroom staff if the retires this summer.

The 33-year-old has already embarked on some coaching courses and Goal.com says that Arteta "is a close friend of Guardiola and Bayern's fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura". Plagued by injury in recent seasons, Arteta is expected to hang up his boots in May and it seems the Etihad could be his next destination.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich star David Alaba has pleaded ignorance over claims he has been approached by Manchester City, with Talksport reporting that the defender is focused only on helping the German side retain their league title.

The Sky Blues have been linked with the Austrian defender ever since it was announced that Guardiola was on his way to the Etihad. Talksport says that Alaba is "high on Guardiola's list of targets" but when asked by German rag Bild if he had news on a possible move, he replied: "I have currently no idea about it. Because I want to concentrate on the essential, which means this season."

Man City transfer news: no Messi deal, but Sane an option

22 February

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told the Mail on Sunday that Lionel Messi will not be moving to the Etihad this summer.

Ever since it was announced that Pep Guardiola would replace Manuel Pellegrini as manager at the end of this season, rumours have been growing that one of Guardiola's first acts would be to raid his old club for the Argentine goal machine. But in conversation with the Mail, Bartomeu had this message for Barca's former coach, and everyone connected with City: "Messi said a few days ago, 'Barcelona will be the only European club that I play for'. So if someone is interested in Messi, forget it. He said this. I didn't say it."

Asked why he was confident Messi would stay loyal to Barca, Bartomeu replied with a smile, "the weather'" Then he added: "We are confident because we know our players are very happy in our club, in our city. They enjoy sport, their profession, and they are in a group. So we are very confident those players are not moving, taking decisions because of money."

But while Messi may be off the menu, City are in position to land Schalke youngster Leroy Sane, who is attracting interest from Europe's elite.

The 20-year-old is expected to move for around £40m in the summer, and although Chelsea and Man United are also keen to land him, The Sun says City will "go in hard" for the player this summer.

Man City transfer news: Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan on the radar

19 February

One player who won't be rushing to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City this summer is Thiago Alcantara - despite recent rumours to the contrary.

The Bayern Munich midfielder has been heavily linked to the Etihad since it was confirmed Guardiola would be leaving the German club for the Sky Blues at the end of the season.

That is understandable, as Alcantara was the one player the manager was determined to bring to Bayern from his former club Barcelona. But the 24-year-old has moved to reassure fans in Munich he won't be doing the dirty on them.

In words carried by the Daily Mirror but communicated first-hand to German rag Bild, the Spanish midfielder reacted to the speculation thus: "There are always a lot of rumours... but there is no truth in the rumours saying I will follow [Guardiola]. I would not have signed a new contract had I wanted to leave the club. I extended my contract for a reason."

Alcantara signed a new four-year deal at Bayern last August and his pledge of loyalty comes swiftly on the heels of a similar declaration from striker Robert Lewandowski, who said he had no plans to leave the Allianz Arena for City. "I know there is interest for me abroad, but I can well conceive of extending due to a great team and good teamwork," he said.