Man City transfer news: Four depart in Deadline Day cull

Man City transfer news: Real Madrid star Toni Kroos hints at move

07 July

As Germany prepare to battle France this evening in the second Euro 2016 semi-final one of their stars has been discussing his future - and according to Metro, midfielder Toni Kroos has dropped his strongest hint yet that he's ready to walk out on Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old playmaker has been strongly linked with the Sky Blues ever since Pep Guardiola, who he knows from Bayern Munich days, was unveiled as the new manager.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Kroos was asked about his future on the eve of the last four shootout with France. "I ruled out quite a while ago playing for a club in Germany again and this is still the case," he said, when asked if he might ever return to Bayern.

When the Manchester City rumour was put to Kroos, however, he was less emphatic, replying rather coyly: "You know that you should never rule anything out on football," before quickly adding: "We're in a tournament here where my total focus is on the semi-finals."

Metro says City are "in the market for a new midfielder" and attention has turned to Kroos after they failed to catch the eye of French midfield magician Paul Pogba.

Man City transfer news: Zinchenko joins the Sky Blues

05 July

Twenty-four hours after being introduced to the Manchester City faithful, new manager Pep Guardiola has wrapped up his fourth signing of the summer and signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from Russian outfit Ufa.

The 19-year-old former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder appeared in all three of Ukraine's matches at Euro 2016 and joins Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Aaron Mooy in the new-look Sky Blues squad, The Guardian reports.

The paper adds that a "long-term cooperation" agreement between the two clubs is part of the deal.

Man City transfer news: Guardiola eyes up Suarez and Kroos

4 July

Pep Guardiola has got his eyes on a couple of crackers, reports the Daily Mirror. According to the paper, the new Sky Blues boss is tailing Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos and Barcelona frontman Luis Suarez.

City last month signed Ilkay Gundogan and Nolito, but the Mirror says the club "haven't yet landed a Galactico" to rival Manchester United's capture of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

That could soon change if Guardiola lures Kroos from the Bernabeu. The pair know each other from their days together at Bayern Munich and although the German still has four years to run on his Real contact, "an offer of £63m would trigger his release clause".

The paper adds that City and Madrid have been informal talks and Kroos is apparently interested by the idea of linking up once more with Guardiola.

As for Suarez, it's reported that the new City manager is "desperate" to bring the former Liverpool sharpshooter back to the Premier League and he's hoping a family connection might help.

The Uruguayan striker is represented by Guardiola's brother, Pere, and is said to be open to a return to England, although The Sun says it would cost City in the region of £85m. Added to Kroos' price tag, that would take the bill for the duo to a whopping £148m.

Meanwhile, City have announced that former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has joined the club as part of the coaching staff.

"I have always been interested in more than just the playing side," said Arteta, who described his new role as "an amazing opportunity".

Man City transfer news: Thiago Alcantara to join Gundogan

01 July

Having coached Thiago Alcantara at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, City boss Pep Guardiola is looking to renew his relationship with the 25-year-old midfielder and bring him to the Etihad.

Guardiola handed Alcantara his debut at Barcelona and then signed him for Bayern Munich, notes The Sun, which says he is now being coaxed to City. Taking its information from Spanish paper El Confidencial, the Sun claims that Guardiola is "in advanced talks" with Bayern over a move for a player who arrived in Germany three years ago

The pair have the same agent, Pep’s brother Pere, and the Sun says that Alcantara regards the City manager as "a father figure". If Guardiola does bring Alcantara to Manchester it may herald the end for the Brazilian pair of Fernando and Fernandinho, as the City boss pairs Alcantara with another new signing in Ilkay Gundogan.

One player who has definitely been signed, according to ESPN, is Ukraine forward Oleksandr Zinchenko. The broadcaster says that "sources close to the player" have confirmed that the 19-year-old will leave Russian outfit FC Ufa for the Etihad shortly.

The frontman broke one of the great Andriy Shevchenko's records in May when his goal against Romania made him the youngest player to score for the Ukraine in an international.

Man City transfer news: John Stones and Wilfried Bony in Everton swap deal

30 June

Pep Guardiola has come up with ingenious way of getting his hands on John Stones, reports The Sun. The paper says that the City boss wants to "swap out-of-favour striker Wilfried Bony in exchange for Stones", plus Everton would also receive £20m in readies.

Guardiola is said to be desperate to sign the England centre-back after failing to land Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte earlier in the month. According to the Sun the offer could interest new Everton manager Ronald Koeman, particularly if, as expected, the club sells wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku, who is the centre of a £65m tug-of-war between Arsenal and Chelsea.

With Spain out of the Euros some of their squad have been considering their futures and, according to Goal, Nolito jetted into Manchester on Wednesday evening "to put the finishing touches on his move to the Blues". It's believed the Spain forward underwent a medical under the eye of Pep Guardiola and he will be officially unveiled as the club's latest signing shortly.

Personal terms have been agreed and so has a fee between the Citizens and Celta Vigo with the Spanish side likely to bank something in the region of £14m, says Goal.com. Once the deal is done Nolito will be off on holiday and will return to his new home in the North West at the end of July.

Man City transfer news: £50m to beat Chelsea in Stones race

27 June

Is John Stones set to join Manchester City this summer? The Sun says so with the paper reporting that Citizens boss Pep Guardiola is "confident he has won the £50m transfer scrap" for the Everton defender.

As has been well-documented, Chelsea made three attempts to winkle Stones out of Goodison Park 12 months ago but to no avail. The Sun claims that the Blues are still interested in the 22-year-old centre-back, as are Manchester United, but that City have won the race to his signature.

With City skipper Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala doing little to inspire confidence thanks to injury and fluctuating form, Guardiola appreciates he has to beef up the Sky Blues back four and that's why he's got permission from the City board to pay Everton £50m for the young defender. Additionally, says the Sun, Guardiola "will also assess" centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and Jason Denayer in pre-season before making a decision on their future at the club.

Man City transfer news: Deal for Nolito is 'almost done'

24 June

Nolito is a Manchester City player in all but name, reports Goal.com, although their source is the player's uncle.

Stories emerged earlier in the week that the Sky Blues were closing in on the Celta Vigo ace, who is currently preparing to spearhead Spain's attack in Monday's last 16 clash against Italy at the Euros. Nolito was originally linked with a move to Barcelona at the start of the year but the Catalan club are pouring their resources into plugging their porous defence and that's paved the way for City to make their move for the 29-year-old.

And when Nolito's uncle, Manolo Rodriguez, was asked what was the situation was by El Chiringuito TV, he replied: "He [Nolito] is leaving, for sure, he is just waiting to finish the Euros but the [deal] with City is almost done. It's one of the best teams in the world right now and they have money."

And the talkative senor Rodriguez also revealed what sealed the deal for his nephew: "Guardiola called him a week ago," he explained. "He is going to City because of him. If City had another manager I think he wouldn't have gone."

Man City transfer news: Jesus Navas exit funds £13.8m Nolito deal

23 June

It seems that Jesus Navas's time at the Etihad is coming to an end with Inter and AC Milan both endeavouring to sign the 30-year-old winger.

According to Talksport, the two Italian clubs have heard from the Sky Blues that they are prepared to sell Navas, who has just one year to run on his contract.

Talksport claims that "he could be available for under £10m", although Spanish club Sevilla are ready to challenge the Milan duo for Navas. What money City make from selling Navas will form part of their fee to bring Celta Vigo star Nolito to the club.

The Daily Mail says that City are ready to pay Vigo £13.8m for the right-footed star, and the paper claims that the Spanish international "has agreed to join Guardiola's revolution on a three-year deal as soon as Euro 2016 ends". The Mail also says that once Nolito has been snapped up City will turn their attention to Leroy Sane and offer German club Schalke £30m in return for the 20-year-old frontman.