Manchester City Category
Manchester City football club news, Manchester City transfers, Premier League
Misleading headline of the day: Man City’s Bruyne at war with Arsenal’s Ozil
Misleading headline of the day is in The Sun, which brings news of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil. The headline thunders:
Kevin De Bruyne desperate to dethrone Mesut Ozil as King of the Prem assists
Desperate? What did he say when asked about assists?
“I know Ozil is leading. Last year I had 21. You can quickly get ten or 11 assists in half a season. You can sometimes have six and then seven matches with nothing, then a run. For me personally it does not matter.”
How did “it does not matter” become “desperate”.
Posted: 27th, January 2016 | In: Back pages, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Arsenal legend picks Mourinho over Wenger and four Manchester United players in Dream Team
Much is being made of former Arenal captain Patrick Vieira ‘s selection of Jose Mourinho to manage his dream XI. Arenal manager Arsène Wenger, who brought the player to English football, is overlooked. Vieira played under Mourinho at Inter Milan for 18 months – he played for Wenger for nine years.
“[Mourinho’s] the manager who had more influence on me, ” says Vieira. “Why? Because he was the one who impressed me most on his work ethic. He knew everything about the opposition, the strength, weakness. His detail was unbelievable; everything was so clear about what he wanted from each player. I don’t know what happened at Chelsea but he always got the best out of his players… Arsène is more concentrated on his own team. He gives freedom to players to express themselves. It’s a different style.”
Vieira is now carving out a career in management at Manchester City, attempting to prove his coaching potential with New York City FC, a Man City franchise. Arsenal never did come calling for their former captain. Is he bitter?
These are his dream teams to play with and play against:
Posted: 23rd, January 2016 | In: Arsenal, Back pages, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Ronaldo and Bale to Man United, Messi to Man City, Pep to Chelsea
Transfer balls: The British Press is obsessed with Real Madrid. The latest news is that Cristiano Ronaldo will definitely leave Real Madrid in the summer, with Manchester United and Paris St-Germain keen to sign the 30-year-old Portugal forward. So says the Telegraph.
This will trigger a new wave of spending by Real Madrid, who will fight PSG for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. The 24-year-old Belgium forward is certain to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer, says the Daily Mail.
And there is Gareth Bale, the 26-year-old Real Madrid player who will follow Ronaldo out of the Spanish capital, heading to join Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Manchester United or PSG. Unless he elects to stay in Spain, says the Sun.
Should Bale head to Manchester United he will hook up with that club’s next manager. Yeah, it’s 56-year-old Carlo Ancelotti, who was approached by United’s king maker’s last November. Back then the Italian rejected the chance to replace Louis van Gaal because he wants to manage Bayern Munich, says the Daily Mail. But he’s yet to be offered that job. So it might be United for him.
Bayern, of course, are waving goodbye to their manager, Pep Guardiola. The Manchester Evening News wonders if Pep, 44, is to be United’s next boss. News is that he won’t be. Apparently United feel he’s already set his mind on bossing Manchester City, where, says the Sun, he will attempt to buy Lionel Messi from Barcelona. The Catalans will then attempt to buy Hazard.
Unless the London Evening Standard is right and Pep is going to receive an offer from Chelsea he cannot refuse. In which case, Hazard will stay at Chelsea, Bale will stay at Real and Ronaldo will cancel his flight to Old Trafford.
Meanwhile…at Arsenal….
Posted: 7th, January 2016 | In: Back pages, Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Manchester City offer Pep Guardiola £18m a year: Manchester United raid piggybank
The Sun leads with news that Pep Guardiola has been offered £18m a year to manage Manchester City, aka ‘The Brand’.
Pep’s people have “not denied having a verbal deal in place with City” – which can mean whatever you want it to mean. To the Mirror, for instance, it means that Manchester United are looking to “muscle in” on any Pep-to-City business and lure the Spaniard to Old Trafford.
The Sun also mentions United, adding that the Glazers see Pep as a “better fit” than Jose Mourinho, the sacked Chelsea boss lurking in London, desperately awaiting the United call. Who seriously thinks Jose is good fit at United? Mark Hughes is a better shape.
It’s a mad world when Manchester City can pay a manager a fortune. But getting Pep is as much about marketing as it is winning on the pitch. Pep is the starriest name in football management. If he comes, the talk will focus on what players he can attract from Spain: Messi, Neymar, Suarez et al. City will look serious.
But would any of those players want to be at City? Maybe. And that’s what City are bidding for: potential.
Posted: 24th, December 2015 | In: Back pages, Manchester City, Sports, Tabloids | Comment
Transfer balls: Chelsea go for Vardy
Transfer balls: The Telegraph lead with news that Chelsea and Manchester City are each to offer £30m for Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy. This is one of those stories that just annoys football fans. Leicester are a joy. They are the season’s surprise package, reminding us that the hyped Premier League is not all about money and vanity.
It’s sport.
Anyone who love competition should hope Vardy stays at Leicester. If he heads to the City global brand or money-mad Chelsea, Leicester are weakened. City won’t even have to play him to have got one over on top-of-the-table Leicester. Chelsea will chew him up and spit him out.
Matt Law says Leicester City will fight to retain their centre-forward. One way way to do that: pay he player more money. Vardy’s on £40,000-a-week. City and Chelsea would pay him much more. Leicester need to act fast.
Posted: 23rd, December 2015 | In: Back pages, Chelsea, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Chelsea £17m a year for Pep, Mourinho met Manchester United last week, Ferguson returns
The tabloids continue to obsesses with who is going to be manager of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, respectively, when January is out. Arsenal don’t seem to be in need of a new broom (see back pages above), showing the rest that sticking with a man and working to a plan can work.
The Mail (back page): “Chelsea move for Guardiola.
Page 72: “Money no object as Roman bids to lure Pep.”
Readers learn that Guardiola has “assessed” the Chelsea squad and calculated the Blues will need 10 new players. Yeah. That’s all. We’re also introduced to Mrs Pep, Cristina Serra. The Mail says she could “sway” her husband’s decision.
Daily Express: (back page): “Mourinho lined up for Old Trafford.”
This is a story that repeats. Why would Manchester United want Jose Mourinho, a successful but irritating man with no roots at United, who sees clubs as existing for his benefit? We can debate it at length, but the Express says United’s management are ready to give current manager Louis Van Gaal the boot and replace him with the Portuguese.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 22nd, December 2015 | In: Back pages, Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Man City pay Guardiola £84m but Chelsea say ‘name your price’
Pep Guardiola has moved “one step closer” to Manchester City says the Mirror. The paper leads with news that Pep Guardiola is “poised to join his old Barcelona mates and quit Bayern Munich for Manchester millions”.
It seems odd that a man at the top of football would be in it for the money, as the Mirror implies. Does he really want to live in Manchester? Would he not prefer to wait for a London club, say, Arsenal, where his style of football would be an easy fit?
The Sun says Arsenal would suit Pep, but they have less money to spend on top players and Arsene Wenger is not leaving.
As for the wages, Marca says Bayern have offered Pep £14.5m (€20m) a season. He’s not exactly shy of big-money offers. So why City? Well, he has worked with The Citizens’ chief executive, Ferran Soriano, and the director of football, Txiki Begiristain. Those are his “Barcelona mates”.
So much for the headlines. But reading on in the Mirror we learn that Pep is not poised to join City. He has simply announced that he will make his decision on whether or not to remain at Bayern Munich in the next week. However German magazine Kicker does say he is definitely on his way out.
Guardiola is in the final year of his contract with Germany’s champions. What he’s going to do next is largely a matter of media guesswork. The Guardian says “his availability next season would also appeal to Manchester United and possibly Chelsea”. The Times says Chelsea is not an option because Pep was “unsettled by Roman Abramovich’s relentless pursuit while he was enjoying time away from the game in New York”.
The Sun returns to the Pep pay packet, saying Chelsea will pay him the most. They want him to “name his price”. City will offer him £84m over four years. Chelsea will top that and throw in a glitzy life in London.
Pep has options. That much is clear. But the Mirror says he’s on his way to City for sure. In fact, he’s already “lined up stars” to play for him at the Etihad, players like Paul Pogba and John Stones.
Well, maybe.
Posted: 17th, December 2015 | In: Arsenal, Back pages, Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Arsenal have a one in eight chance of beating Man City to Premier League title
The Times‘ football writers have ben indulging in a spot of international break chatter.
Final Premier League top four – predictions:
MD: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.
OK: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.
MH: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.
JD: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.
GC: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur.
RS: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea.
AR: Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Southampton.
TB: Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United.
City are going o walk it…
Posted: 16th, November 2015 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Youri Tielemans wanted by Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea in full-house of tabloid TB
Transfer Balls: Manchester United and Manchester City want to sign 18-year-old Anderlecht midfielder Youri Tielemans says the Daily Star. In the paper’s “exclusive” we learn that United and City will have to pay £30m, for the “star”.
Paul Hetherington writes:
City’s strong Belgium contingent is headed by skipper Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne, an instant hit since his record £56m move from Wolfsburg in the summer.
Kompany and De Bruyne are the only Belgians in City’s first team squad.
For good measure this scoop also name-checks a load of other clubs:
Tielemans is also being linked with possible moves to Chelsea, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.
But Spanish organ AS told us Tielemans had signed for Atletico Madrid:
The Express, sister paper to the Star, said the young blade was worth £14m and was heading to Arsenal or Chelsea:
The Star’s “exclusive” was the Mail’s story a week ago:
And that price is falling on the Express:
And in March the Star said he was on his way to Chelsea, snubbing Liverpool:
In May Youri Tielemans – a player linked by the tabloids bullshit.com to the six biggest clubs in English football – signed a new five-year contract with Anderlecht.
Such are the facts.
Posted: 2nd, November 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Leicester City are the Premier League’s most efficient side; Arsenal shoot on sight; Manchester United are shot shy
If football is all about taking your chances, then Leicester City epitomise the mantra. The Premier League club have scored 23 goals from an average of 14.8 shots per match in the Premier League.
The Foxes are third place in the Premier League, one above huge-spending Manchester United, with 15 goals scored at a rate of just 10 shots a match.
Top of the table Manchester City have 26 goals at 18.7 shots per match.
Arsenal are the league’s most shot happy team, firing on goal 19.2 times a match with 21 hitting the target. The Gunners work to a different golden rule: if you don’t shoot, you can’t score.
Posted: 2nd, November 2015 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Chelsea want Guardiola who agrees to join Manchester City unless sharks eat Mourinho
Transfer balls: as the Press pile in on Jose Mourinho, the Telegraph says Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola, 44, is Chelsea’s first-choice replacement for the argumentative Portuguese.
He is? Says who?
Matt Law reports:
Intermediaries, working independently and not at the request of Abramovich or Chelsea, are already attempting to gauge whether Guardiola would be interested in taking over at Stamford Bridge when his Bayern Munich contract expires at the end of the season. They want to be in a position to hand Guardiola to the Blues owner if Mourinho is sacked.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 26th, October 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester United want Lionel Messi and Ronaldo
The Sun leads its sports coverage with the rugby World Cup news that Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City hope they each have enough money to “persuade Lionel Messi to swap Barcelona for the Prem.”
Would Messi come to Manchester or London? The Sun says the Argentine superstar has “given the trio the clearest hint yet that he is ready to listen”.
All three clubs are convinced that Messi is genuinely considering a move to a different environment and that he could become the Prem’s stellar asset for his last few top seasons.
If he signs we get to see the fading great. He’s 28 now. And he’s only coming for the money – “the Argentine growing increasingly angry at ongoing issues with the Spanish tax authorities. Messi and his father Jorge face trial over an alleged £3.1million tax fraud relating to image rights deals despite prosecutors recommending the charges should be dropped.”
Can you leave Spain be a tax exile in England?
Messi’s current deal has a prohibitive buy-out clause of 250million EUROS, making a move this summer infeasible.
Unfeasible for Manchester City’s trillions?
But by June 2017, when he turns 30 and with one year left in his contract, Barca may be more keen to sell, although the English trio would still have to smash their wage structure to accommodate Messi’s demand for a deal matching his current one.
Who wants to pay a fortune to eke a couple of years value from a 30-year-old Messi? Maybe Manchester United want him to team him up with an ageing Ronaldo?
Such are the facts…
Posted: 23rd, October 2015 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Manchester City star Yaya Toure in naked bum for son kiss ‘n’ tell
The Sun continues to gun for Manchester City’s Yay Toure. Having introduced readers to £10 tipped ‘Flora’ Ntonya and (alleged) Sainsbury’s sex with Sandra Ntonya, the paper shows us a lad who could be the footballer’s “secret love child”.
The story begins:
MARRIED Manchester City star Yaya Toure has a secret two-year-old love child — after cheating on his wife with an ex-girlfriend. Role model Toure, 32, abandoned Mariam Camara when she got pregnant. And she has told how he stopped giving her money to raise their child — because she refused to send him sexy selfies.
The paper had us up to the big about Yaya being a role model for anyone else but his own children. Why are footballers role models and not, say, newspaper editors or Prince Harry?
Toure, who claims he is proud to be a family man and a role model for youngsters, had a four-month affair with Mariam. After initially refusing to accept the baby boy was his, he finally agreed to stump up cash to support the child.
But yesterday Mariam told how the £230,000-a-week midfielder then cut off the money because she would not send him pictures of herself in provocative poses.
She says:
“Whenever he sent the money there were conditions attached. I would have to give him something, like naked photos or photos of my bum. And if I didn’t send the photos we wouldn’t get the money… Yaya is a role model to thousands of young people around the world. But he doesn’t have the heart to properly care for his own son.”
And about those role modes, she adds:
“I knew he was married. I knew his wife from back home. But we didn’t really talk about her.”
Can’t mum be a role model for her child? Or does she first have to become a footballer?
She adds:
“I want him to take responsibility. It’s not about money. He needs to see his son. But he won’t even respond to my messages.”
If you can’t through over the phone, always good to reach out via the Sun’s dating app. Can’t fail.
Posted: 13th, September 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Manchester City fan has entire transcript of Martin Tyler’s ‘AGUERO!’ commentary tattooed on his arm
As it was quite possibly the last genuinely dramatic thing that happened in the Premier League, Sergio Aguero’s title-snatching 93rd-minute winning goal against QPR on the final day of the 2011/12 season has attained iconic status in the prevailing years.
Aguero’s late winner saw Man City whip the championship away from underneath Manchester United’s nose with nanoseconds of the campaign remaining, and the accompanying apoplectic yowling from Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has since become synonymous with the occasion.
So much so, in fact, that one City fan has immortalised that glorious day by having the entire transcript of Tyler’s orgasmic howling tattooed on his forearm…
Photo: @mancitybear
Impressive, no?
No, not really.
Posted: 10th, September 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports, The Consumer | Comment
Transfer Balls: Arsenal eye Zaza, Manchester City chase Isco, Manchester United are insane
Manchester City are in the market for… No, not a local youth who will rise through the ranks and bind the fans to their club. No. City wants another foreign-born midfielder they can spend squillions of pounds on. And that man is Isco.
Right now the 23-year-old plays for Real Madrid. But Spanish newspapers say Isco is tempting City and Arsenal. The Gunners have oodles of cash but won’t match any weekly wage packet City can offer.
A little oddly, Paris St-Germain defender Thiago Silva, 30, says the amount Manchester City and Man United spent on players this summer is “the edge of madness”. He fails to explain to the London Evening Standard if either Manchester club is in the same mental health clinic as PSG, which spent £50m on David Luiz.
Spain’s Fichajes website says the Gunners will also bid for Juventus striker Simone Zaza go in January. The 24-year-old striker is surplus to requirements in Turin.
And more Arsenal news in the shape of PSG’s Ezequiel Lavezzi, 30, who says new teammate Angel Di Maria is terrific and this will be final year in Paris, telling Telefoot “I’m very happy for new signing Di María, it’s always good to play with your friends. He is a great player, I hope he adapts quickly. I think it’s my last year in Paris. But I’m OK and I want to finish it the best way possible. You never know what can happen. Today I want to stay, tomorrow we’ll see.”
You can’t out a price on that kind of commitment?
Posted: 9th, September 2015 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer News: Everton fans drive John Stones out, Chelsea want Linpeng, Arsenal meet Higuain asking price
It was obvious, really. The way to keep John Stones from leaving Everton is for the club’s fans to make him “flee” his Widnes home and hide out in a hotel. Well, so says the Sun– and who in Liverpool can doubt the veracity of that paper’s reporting on the Merseyside teams?
No news on how fans of Wolfsburg have taken the news that Kevin de Bruyne will head to Manchester City for a weekly retainer of £200,000, says the Telegraph , or £300,000 a week if you believe the Daily Mirror.
Liverpool’s Serbian winger Lazar Markovic, 21, a £20m signing from Benfica just last summer, has left Anfield to join Fenerbahce on a season-long loan in the tax-free Turkish leagues, says the Daily Mail.
Another on his way to Turkey – maybe – is Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi, 28. Besiktas are keen on the uninspiring midfielder, says the Daily Mirror.
The Guardian says Norwich have offered £1.5m for Stoke City’s never-say-die Jonathan Walters. Stoke says that offer is laughably low.
The Times relays news from Chinese media that Chelsea are after Zhang Linpeng, who plays for (it says here) Guangzhou Evergrande.
Also in the Times news that West Ham United still want Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor. The 31-year-old former Arsenal and Manchester City striker turned down the chance to reunite with Tim Sherwood at Aston Villa because he wanted to stay in London. Adebayor is in the last year is a contract worth £100,000-a-week. West Ham think he’s worth it.
According to the Daily Express, Arsenal will offer £59m for Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain. The Italian will reject that vast sum and only sell in January for reasons that are as clear as mud.
Posted: 28th, August 2015 | In: Arsenal, Manchester City, Spurs | Comment
Transfer Balls: Kevin De Bruyne joins Manchester City for £56million and £300,000 a week
Kevin De Bruyne will become a Manchester City player tomorrow, says the Times.
The paper says City have agreed to invest £56 million in Wolfsburg’s Belgium midfielder. Patrick De Koster, De Bruyne’s agent, says that to the best of his knowledge his client has not agreed a five-year contract, worth nearly £230,000 a week.
The Guardian tells him that the deal has been struck at £54m.
Daily Mirror has seen it. But it says the Times is wrong – De Bruyne will earn – get this – £300,000 a week to kiss the Man City badge. Hell, for that money the former Chelsea man will even move to Manchester.
Posted: 27th, August 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester United move for Kevin De Bruyne
With Belgian footballer Kevin De Bruyne seemingly all set to join Manchester City, Christian Ortlepp, Chief Reporter at German channel, Sport1, says Manchester United have moved for the Wolfsburg winger.
Ortlepp cites a fee of £55m.
The Express says the offer is £58m.
The Telegraph says Bayern Munich also want the 24-year-old former Chelsea player. Mark Ogden writes:
And De Bruyne’s reluctance to agitate for a move has opened the door for Bayern, who have maintained a long-term interest in the player. Paris Saint-Germain have also notified Wolfsburg of their interest in De Bruyne, but Bayern have made it clear to their German rivals that they will not make a formal move for the goalscoring midfielder until the end of this season.
That scoop has been addressed by Bayern Munich Club press officer Markus Horwick:
“We will definitely not be as active. That the Executive Board decided a long time ago.”
Wolfsburg are owned by Volkswagen, so they’re not exactly in dire need of cash.
Sky quotes Wolfsburg sports director Klaus Allofs:
“I want to stress that we are making every effort to convince him to stay. But we are equally serious about dealing with these issues should we have serious offers in front of us. Then we will discuss it and take a decision.”
This one will go to the wire.
Posted: 25th, August 2015 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City buy Kevin de Bruyne for £50m, Chelsea hail the new Torres
Transfer Balls: Kevin De Bruyne, who “cried every day” when he was at Stamford Bridge, has agreed personal terms with Manchester City, says the Guardian.
The 24-year-old winger will earn – get this – £200,000-a-week at City. For that money he might even kiss the badge.
The Belgian is scheduled to become City’s fifth new major signing of the summer. City need just to agree a fee with Wolfsburg. The paper says City will have to go as high as £55m.
The Daily Mirror says the deal has been done for £50m.
Is he really that good?
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 22nd, August 2015 | In: Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment (1)
Transfer Balls: Nicolas Otamendi agrees Manchester United but joins Manchester City
Is Nicolas Otamendi going to play for Manchester United? Or is the Valencia defender off to play for Manchester City?
There’s been lots of talk about Nicolas Otamendi joining Manchester United. Stories like: “Manchester United AGREE deal to sign Valencia star Nicolas Otamendi”; “Deal done: Man United target Nicolas Otamendi agrees move, will be announced today” (both Daily Star); “Nicolas Otamendi to Manchester United: Club agree to sign £36m-rated centre-back” (Independent); and “Real Madrid believe Manchester United have sealed Nicolas Otamendi transfer” (Daily Mirror).
It turns out these stories are all utter balls because the Daily Mail says Manchester City are “close to completing the £28.5m signing of Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi, 27, with City defender Eliaquim Mangala, 24, likely to go to the Spanish club on loan.” Although, the Express says the fee is £35m.
Posted: 17th, August 2015 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment (1)
Thomas Muller: ‘Ask Manchester United If They Will Pay More For Me’
Is Thomas Muller heading to Manchester United?
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: FC Bayern Muenchen head coach Louis van Gaal (L) and Thomas Muller celebrate victory at the end of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Inter Milan v FC Bayern Muenchen on February 23, 2011 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
The Sunday Express leads with news that Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller, 25, wants to join Manchester United. Readers learn that United have had a £60 million bid rejected this summer but Bayern manager manager Pep Guardiola is “prepared to cash in”.
The Telegraph says the bid was £50m.
The German champion’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is wary of Premier League cash, telling media:
“The Bundesliga has to be careful not to fall further behind. We would be out of our minds to sell Muller… It’s difficult. Everyone knows our old friend Louis van Gaal. He is very stubborn in those things. Maybe he thinks that there is a price where Bayern will start to ruminate but there is no price at all. As I said because of our partners and our really good financial situation we are completely resistant. There is no price, Thomas Muller has four years more on his contract. There is no one, not here or anywhere, who can explain to me why we should sell Thomas Muller.”
But he wants to join, right? The Express reports:
“Muller has confided in friends that he is interested in a move to United alongside Schweinsteiger who has been delighted with his Old Trafford welcome. Muller knows that his wages would enjoy a hefty rise.”
Is that the ploy: confide in’ friends’ who betray their pal’s trust by telling media that the star could earn a lot more at another club thus triggereing a pay rise? Are those nameless friends also employees of Muller’s agent?
The Metro reads the Express‘ “exclusive” and thunders: “Thomas Muller desperate to make Manchester United transfer.”
Helpfully, Thomas Muller was happy to talk about the rumours after scoring twice in Bayern’s 5-0 tonking of Hamburg. Asked if Van Gaal was after signing him, Muller replied:
“I don’t know, you have to ask him. I am the wrong man for this question.”
So. He’s not desperate to join Manchester United, then.
Posted: 16th, August 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Adama Traore signs for Aston Villa, completes for Liverpool and agrees Manchester United move
Transfer Balls: It’s been a busy summer for Barcelona’s Adama Traore. Those experts in the mainstream Press have been tracking his movements:
July 26, The Metro: “‘Manchester United paying release clause to seal Adama Traore transfer”
July 28, The Metro: “Why Arsenal need to beat Bayern Munich to the transfer of Barcelona’s Adama Traore”
July 30, The Metro: “Liverpool officials fly to Barcelona to complete Adama Traore transfer”
August 1, The Metro: “Southampton plot to hijack Liverpool’s transfer move for Barcelona winger Adama Traore”
August 2, The Metro: “‘Everton set to hijack Liverpool’s transfer move for Adama Traore”
August 3, The Metro: “Adama Traore travelling to Liverpool for medical ahead of transfer”
August 3, Daily Star: “Barcelona’s Manchester United target set for Liverpool medical”
August 5, The Metro: “‘Adama Traore has dinner with Stoke officials ahead of possible transfer”
August 7, Daily Mail: “Adama Traore is being linked with Stoke and Liverpool… Adama’s release clause in his Barcelona contract has dropped to £4.2m”
August 8, The Metro: “‘Adama Traore convinced he is making Liverpool transfer”
August 11, Daily Mail: “Adama Traore close to £12m Aston Villa switch from Barcelona”
August 11, Daily Telegraph: “Liverpool transfer rumours and news: Barcelona star Adama Traore emerges as top target”
August 11, Daily Telegraph: “Adam Traore is flying in for talks with Aston Villa on Wednesday as he prepares to complete a £7 million move.”
Busy lad.
Posted: 12th, August 2015 | In: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City makes Chelsea reject De Bruyne one of their own
Transfer Balls: Manchester City have had a £38m bid for Kevin De Bruyne, 24, turned down by his German club Wolfsburg. The Times says City will go again with a bid of £40 million plus £7m of add-ons.
Man City are going for it. Having already signed Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts, De Bruyne would take the spend over the £100m mark.
but nothing is guaranteed.
Klaus Allofs, Wolfsburg’s sporting director, says the former Chelsea player will stay in Germany. Of that he is 99.9 sure – which is not sure at all. He said:
“I think some other clubs have definitely turned Kevin’s head. Some huge figures are doing the rounds and I can understand why Kevin is leaving everything open. He’s got to listen to the offers. I can’t expect from him that he doesn’t even want to entertain them.
“If he was only contracted to us until 2017, then yes, it would be different. But let’s be honest about it – it’s highly unlikely that he’ll stay with us right up until 2019 [when his contract ends].”
What says the player?
“All this is not because I want to prove [anything], if necessary,” De Bruyne has said. “I can do that in Germany. Would I return to England because I think this is a good choice for me and my family. Eighteen months ago I was worth €10 million and now suddenly I’m fifty or sixty [million euros]. It will be somewhere in between.”
Money. It’s all about the money.
Posted: 10th, August 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City will get Kevin de Bryune for £45m, West Brom go for Salomon Rondon and stunning Chelsea news
Is Kevin de Bryune heading to Manchester City from Wolfsburg? Yes, says the Guardian, so long as City cough up £45m for the 24-year-old former Chelsea player. But even if they do, Wolfsburg managing director Klaus Allofs says Man City will have to persuade De Bruyne to ask for a transfer, reports the Daily Express.
The Birmingham Mail says West Brom are to invest £15m in Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon, 25. The player, currently knocking them in for Zenit St Petersburg, would become Albion’s most expensive player.
The Daily Star reports that Everton want to take 23-year-old Inter Milan midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri on loan.
The Sun says nippy Aaron Lennon, 28, is on the verge of leaving Spurs. They’ve not even given him a squad number. Aston Villa are said to be interested.
The mighty Bournemouth have seen their £3m offer for Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray, 31, rejected by Palace. The Guardian says the Cherries will now up that offer.
The Daily Telegraph states the bleedin’ obvious by reporting that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho thinks you can only sign players from Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid if a) the club wants to sell them or b) the player wants to leave. No sh*t Sherlock.
Posted: 8th, August 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, Sports, Spurs | Comment
