Manchester City Category
Manchester City football club news, Manchester City transfers, Premier League
Football Balls: Daily Telegraph stirs Manchester United and Manchester City row in Ogden-Silva twitter schism
The Daily Telegraph is 160 years old. To mark the newspaper’s birthday on June 29, it thundered: “Telegraph at 160: Serious, popular and pioneering.” And now full of utter balls.
Take the erudite and routinely insightful Mark Ogden’s story on Manchester United and Manchester City. Ogden had scored an interview with City’s Spanish star David Silva. The Telegraph’s headline told readers:
“David Silva: United’s glory days are now over – they are in City’s shadow now”
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Posted: 6th, August 2015 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s words are twisted into a noose
Is Pep Guardiola making ready for a move to Manchester City? The Sun says he is. Maybe. After all, the German Press says Pep is off to coach Qatar. But says the Sun:
GUARDIOLA gave a huge hint that he could be heading to Manchester City next season as he admitted he could be ready to leave Bayern Munich.
Hint. Could. Could. Any facts?
And while Guardiola denied claims he has already agreed to leave Munich for Manchester, he fuelled the belief that it is only a matter of time before he pitches up as Manuel Pellegrini’s replacement.
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Posted: 31st, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Chelsea: Mourinho loves looking at Arsenal, mocks Pelligrini and fails his maths test
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been talking with the Times Matt Hughes in Montreal, Canada
On Mistakes:
“I’m accepting of mistakes, but not accepting of a lot of mistakes. Mistakes are a part of the game, but a lot of mistakes are not. I’m emotional and this game doesn’t allow us to make lots of mistakes because we are punished for that.”
On Referees:
“…when there is an accumulation of mistakes like we had last season, I’m sorry, I find it difficult to accept. If I make too many mistakes and I put players on the bench then I’m sacked. Referees should be given a rest if they make mistakes, if only to take pressure off them.”
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Posted: 28th, July 2015 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Manchester City lose Premier League before it’s begun, says the Sun
It’s panic stations at Manchester City. The Premier League season hasn’t even started and City are doomed. Utter balls, of course. But, then, we did read it on the Sun, which tells of City “HELL” and “a player crisis” for the big Premier League kick-off.
Boss Manuel Pellegrini watched in horror as new boy Fabian Delph was taken off on a stretcher 18 minutes into his debut — as City were torn apart 4-1 by Real Madrid in Melbourne.
What will City do without their nth choice midfielder?
And Pell then admitted that star striker Sergio Aguero, midfielder Fernandinho and defenders Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis could also miss the opener at West Brom on August 10.
“Admitted” that players who took part in the Copa America might not figure in the season’s opener – a stance in keeping with Arsenal and all other clubs who saw their men in South America?
That’s “Hell”?
It’s going to be a long season.
Posted: 25th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City buy Kevin De Bruyne for an ever-increasing fee
Transfer Balls: How much is Kevin De Bruyne worth to Manchester City?
June 30, 2015, Daily Star: “Man City suffer blow in pursuit of £30m-rated ex-Chelsea star Kevin de Bruyne”
July 2, Daily Express: “Manchester City are willing to spend up in excess of £35million for Wolfsburg attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne”
July 22, Daily Mail: “Manchester City open talks over £40m Kevin De Bruyne move”
July 22, Daily Telegraph: “Man City transfer news: Kevin De Bruyne likely to arrive for £50m'”
July 23, The Metro: “‘Manchester City ‘close in on £56m Kevin July 23, The MDe Bruyne transfer deal”
July 23, Daily Mirror: “‘The £60m Reject – City Ready To Smash British Record For De Bruyne”
Posted: 23rd, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Manchester City: Balotelli wants Liverpool fans to praise Raheem Sterling
Manchester City: Raheem Sterling scored on his debut for The Citizens. Within three minutes for his new club, the former Liverpool player set about justifying City’s £49 million investment.
City won the game against Roma in Melbourne 5-4 on penalties.
All good, then. Well, it was until Liverpool wage-nicker Mario Balotelli took to twitter:
Well done @sterling 31 !
Having praised the man who rejected Liverpool, Balotelli picked up on the Liverpool fans sat in the stands who booed Sterling. He ordered them to stop:
“Liverpool fans are amazing but i hope @sterling31 will play at his best because he deserve it. He’s a good guy young and talented…. support him Like you always did.
“He gave everything to this club and respect it so im sad to see this. YNWA, Liverpool is a family ALWAYS”.
If ‘walking’ Balotelli wasn’t enough to irritate football fans tired of the football family balls and being treated as a mere audience, we get to hear the views of Samir Nasri. The Sun writes:
Sterling was jeered as he made his City debut in yesterday’s clash with Roma at the Melbourne Cricket Ground…
Nasri said: “You always have stupid fans in the stadium and the same thing happened to me when I left Arsenal. You have to move on. He has come to Manchester City and you have to respect his decision.”
Oh, do put a sock in it. Fans don’t have to respect anyone or anything, especially a man who rejects the chance to earn a fortune doing a job they’d do for free.
Nasri then adds:
“This is a game between Roma and Manchester City in Melbourne! We didn’t expect anything like that from these fans, so it is a surprise. But if he needs any advice about that, then he can come and talk to me.”
The advice would be that Liverpool are a bigger club than Man City. (The match was watched by 41,000 fans. When Liverpool played Melbourne Victory at the MCG , 95000 fans were there.)
Money does not buy you love. And if anyone in your ‘family’ demands more pocket money to remain part of the clan or else, show them the door.
Posted: 22nd, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Manchester City: Fabian Delph gets loyalty lessons from Raheem Sterling
So. Fabian Delph said he wouldn’t leave Aston Villa for Manchester City – and then he did. Money; the craven and all-too common mantra “I want to win things” (why not win things with your existing club?); and, well, the money all played parts in Delph’s about turn.
But what about the Daily Mirror, which heralded Delph as the antidote to greed:
On July 13 David Kidd’s column was headlined:
Raheem Sterling has backed himself to shine at a top club, Fabian Delph’s bottled out.
Bottler!
On July 17, Kidd’s column was headlined:
Fabian Delph U-turn is further proof that loyalty is dead in the Premier League.
Judas!
He can’t win in the Mirror but at least Delph now has a better chance of winning on a football pitch.
Posted: 20th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Fabian Delph: Manchester City buy ‘loyal’ Aston Villa captain for £8m
Fabian Delph is no longer Aston Villa captain having signed a five-year contract at Manchester City. A few days ago, Delph “set the record straight” over his future, stating on Villa’s website:
“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight. I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
But then, as the story goes, he spoke with City’s Micah Richards. Says Delph:
“Micah Richards told me that as far as he is concerned, this is the best club in the world and he had the time of his life here.”
But give it a week and Richards might tell you it’s rubbish.
Posted: 17th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Manchester United Transfer Balls: Angel di Maria ‘agrees’ PSG deal and Edison Cavani ‘swap’
Transfer Balls: Manchester United are looking to sell Angel Di Maria.
The Times says Paris Saint-Germain will bid £45m for the Argentina winger who hates living in Manchester.
That’s far less than the British record £59.7 million fee United paid Real Madrid for Di Maria last summer.
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Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Nicolas Otamendi will only play if Manchester United or Chelsea buy him
Transfer Balls spots Nicolas Otamendi. The Sun says he’s threatened to go on strike at Valencia in a bid to “force through a mega-bucks move to Manchester United”.
Is Otamendi really desperate to play for Man United?
The Daily Express expands the market to both big Manchester clubs:
Nicolas Otamendi set to choose between Man Utd and City as agent flies in for crunch talks
You might suppose the agent is flying into Manchester. He isn’t. The agent is flying into Valencia.
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Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: Chelsea, Manchester City, manchester united, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Liverpool: Raheem Sterling laughs as Manchester City wait to exhale
And so it came to pass that Raheem Sterling completed his move from Liverpool to Manchester City for a whopping £49m and £200,000 a week.
This one had threatened to run all summer, leaving media and fans talking more about the Sterling transfer story than actual football deep into August. Sky Sports would herald the new Premier League season with an M People powered montage of Sterling’s best transfer stories trailed by health warning on the perils of inhaling gas from party balloons.
But we can now enjoy the sense of freedom as Sterling moves to his dream club [insert name here]. As he held aloft a scarf in City colours, Sterling said:
“I’ve just had to learn to take it all in my stride. I never imagined I’d be at this point at the age I am now and breaking a transfer record fee. You don’t think about it when you’re a kid — but things have come really fast in the last couple of years. It’s a good feeling and a really happy time for me and my family.
“I’m just glad it’s all over and done with and I can’t wait to get on the training field.
“I’d also like to thank all the people around me — my mum and sisters, my management team, and Aidy Ward for helping me focus and get where I am today.”
Sterling’s protracted Anfield exit became increasingly acrimonious. But in the end he won. And his agent laughed all the way to the bank. Who needs laughing gas when you have loadsa money?
Posted: 15th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City give Liverpool £49m for Citizens diehard Raheem Sterling
Transfer balls: Raheem Sterling is on his way from Liverpool to Manchester City for £49m, says the Sun.
Raheem loves City. Sure, there’s £200,000-a-week for the next five-years guaranteed. But it was never about the money. Sterling told us that and who are we to doubt his word?
Remember it was Raheem’s agent, the charming Aidy Ward, who stated that Sterling wouldn’t extend his association with Liverpool for “£900,000 a week”. Liverpool, who had offered Sterling £100,000 a week could have gone to £900,000 plus £1 – borrowing a quid from Arsene Wenger’s old Luis Suarez savings account – but when you’re dealing with principles often nothing but honour will solve the matter in hand.
Raheem can now achieve his dream of winning things and becoming City’s top goal scorer, surpassing the 178 goals scored by… Yes, Raheem. Correct. Eric Brook.
What that lad doesn’t know about City is not worth knowing.
PS: Queens Park Rangers, from whom Liverpool poached Sterling for an initial fee of £600,000 five years ago, will receive almost £10 million after agreeing a 20 per cent sell-on clause as part of that deal.
Posted: 12th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph signs for Manchester City in a matter of ‘hours’
Transfer Balls: It’s been a busy few weeks of doing nothing for Aston Villa’s Fabian Villa Delph.
July 10, Daily Mail: “Aston Villa captain Fabian Delph set to complete £8m transfer to Manchester City”
The Mail says that in the “next 24 hours”, Delph will be a Manchester City player.
July 10, The Daily Mirror:
The Mirror says Delph is on his way to Man City. But those 24 hours are now 48 hours.
July 11, The Sun: “FABIAN DELPH has dramatically snubbed an £8million move to Manchester City.”
England midfielder Delph said: “I want to set the record straight, I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
Delph stays!
Such are the facts…
Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City bid £44m for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling
Transfer Balls: a look at today’s reporting on Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling.
The Daily Mirror says Liverpool’s owners are ready to stick Raheem Sterling, 20, in the reserves rather than allow him to leave for below their £50m valuation. But surely doing that would result in Sterling playing less top-level football, not being picked for England and a reduction in any transfer fee.
Steven Gerrard has heard enough, telling Sky Sports:
“I’m not happy with all that carry-on and I don’t think there’s any need for it. They all need to be men about the situation. Raheem needs to go in and speak to the owners [Fenway Sports Group] and to Brendan himself, tell them what he wants and go about it that way. You don’t have to throw illnesses in and refuse to go on tour. There are millions and millions of Liverpool fans around the world who are itching to see Raheem Sterling in a Liverpool kit. So I don’t think it’s fair on them if he is behaving like that.”
The Times hears more from the former Liverpool skipper:
However, the 35-year-old said that Sterling, who is under contract until 2017 at Anfield, compared unfavourably with [Jordan] Henderson. “Raheem and Jordan are at different ends of the scale,” the former England captain added. “Jordan’s so professional, he’s a winner, a great lad. I don’t think there’s a more fitting player to take that armband off me. I see a lot of my game in Jordan’s game and what I like about him is he’s very humble.”
The Guardian says Sterling is now feeling much better. He’s presented his off-games not to Mr Rodgers and after two days in front of daytime telly returned for pre-season training. Will he now take part in Liverool’s pre-season tour?
The Liverpool Echo says he could be. Sterling’s name has been included in Lvierpool’s 30-man squad to tour Australia and the Far East. However, the Echo concedes “it is still unknown, however, whether Sterling will actually join up with the squad”.
The Telegraph says the Professional Footballers’ Association has volunteered to mediate between Sterling and Liverpool.
As the Times notes, the PFA did that when Arsenal came knocking for Suarez:
The situation is not a new one for Liverpool, who were faced with a similar predicament two years ago during Arsenal’s unsuccessful pursuit of Luis Suárez.
At the time, Suárez’s attempts to force a move were faced down by Liverpool and after joining up with his club’s pre-season tour of Australia, the Uruguay striker ended the summer training alone before reluctantly accepting that he would not be allowed to leave.The key difference with Sterling, however, is that Liverpool will sanction his sale at the right price but, unless a deal is struck with City before this weekend, Rodgers will expect the former Queens Park Rangers player to be on the flight to Bangkok with the rest of his team-mates.
But no need to worry the Mirror says Manchester City have bid £44m for Sterling.
It is set to be £40m cash with add-ons which may still not be enough for Liverpool to accept as they are holding out for £50m. The clubs have opened dialogue about Sterling and must try and resolve it in the next 24 hours.
Maybe…
Posted: 11th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Liverpool fans branded racist by Raheem Sterling’s people
Time to catch up with Liverpool and England footballer Raheem Sterling. What’s he been up to this summer? How’s the agent? How are the kids and the balloons?
The Sun: “Pack yer bags, Sterling”
LIVERPOOL have told Raheem Sterling he MUST go on the club’s pre-season tour. The Kop rebel missed training yesterday, claiming he was ill, after informing boss Brendan Rodgers he did not want to be considered for the trip to Asia and Australia.
The problem with calling in sick is that if you do it and only secure one day off, you look like a skiver.
Liverpool were set to send a doctor to give Sterling a check-up and the wantaway winger, 20, faces a massive fine if he does not turn up for the four-game trip. He could also be left sweating on a move to Manchester City, who are the only club to make offers for him.
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Posted: 9th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer balls: Manchester City miss out on Pogba and £45m bid for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling
Transfer Balls: a look at today’s news on Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling and his move to Manchester City.
The Sun: “Sterling… spend it! And Raheem won’t be the only deal after Uefa lift FFP cap”
MANCHESTER CITY have been given the green light by Uefa for a £150million spree.
ESPN says that spree will be £100m. But, still, it’s a huge number.
Part of that spree is the likely purchase of Raheem Sterling, who, says the Sun, will cost City £45m.
The Times reports:
City’s second offer of up to £40 million for the England forward [Sterling] was rejected, but the club will be in a stronger position to raise their bid closer to Liverpool’s asking price of £50 million. Manuel Pellegrini is also confident of being able to sign Kevin de Bruyne, who is likely to cost £35 million, despite Wolfsburg wanting to offer their Belgium midfielder a new contract. The City manager has not given up hope of bringing in Paul Pogba, the Juventus midfielder.
Last season City were hit with a £49m fine and forced to submit a reduced Champions League squad of 21 players after breaching Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations. Those barriers to recruitments have now been removed. A Uefa statement read:
“We have lifted a number of restrictions on transfer activity, employee expenses and number of players in Uefa club competitions imposed on Manchester City.
“This is after the club reached certain targets towards break-even compliance as part of the ongoing monitoring of their settlement agreement.
“The lifting of restrictions is subject to ongoing additional controls and audits. The club remains under strict monitoring and has still to meet break-even targets and is therefore subject to some limitations in 2016.”
All media sources agree that City will Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph.
But the Manchester Evening News says Pogba as “agreed” to join Barcelona.
Juventus have told Barcelona that they will not sell Paul Pogba until next summer in what appears to be a blow to City’s hopes.
And in a meeting between officials of the two giant clubs in Italy, it is also reported that Barca made it plain that they will launch a bid for the player ahead of the 2015-16 season.
That clearly paves a way for a deal between the two giant European clubs for the France midfielder, who is the Blues’ main target in this transfer window.
Barca are under a transfer ban this summer after being found guilty by Fifa of breaching rules regarding the purchase of players aged under 18.
As for De Bruyne, who has a contract with Wolfsburg until 2019, the Indy reports:
Speaking to Sport1 earlier this week, Wolfsburg’s sporting director Klaus Allofs said: “Kevin has a contract until 2019, so the signal has already been sent out. He will stay with us. We’ve said we will look at his contract.
De Bruyne lifts the German Cup at the end of last season De Bruyne lifts the German Cup at the end of last season “The aim is to take into account financially Kevin’s extraordinary development. The best players should earn the best wages. We will make an offer to him and I think we will reach an agreement here very quickly.”
Surely there is no way Wolfsburg can beat super-rich City’s offer. Given news of City’s huge transfer kitty, the German club will know they can ask top dollar of any player.
Posted: 4th, July 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Media Balls: Manchester City’s new manager after Pelligrini is sacked is…
Transfer Balls: It’s time to talk about Manchester City’s next manager.
Today The Daily Star reports that Man City are looking to sack Manuel Pellegrini and replace the affable Chilean with current Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola.
No, not Diego Siemone, as reported in the, er, Daily Star:
The media really do want Pelligrini out:
March 13, 2015, TalkSport: “Manuel Pellegrini will be sacked this summer if Manchester City fail to land the Premier League title.”
Apr 10 2015, The Independent: Can Man United get Manuel Pellegrini sacked?
April 13, 2015, the Guardian: “Manchester City could sack Pellegrini before end of season”
April 13, 2015, Daily Star: “Patrick Vieira could be made caretaker-boss of Manchester City if the club decide to sack Manuel Pellegrini.”
April 15, 2015, The Times: “Manchester City are not targeting Jürgen Klopp in the event that Manuel Pellegrini is sacked as manager”
May 3, 2015, Mirror: “Manchester City MUST sack Manuel Pellegrini if they want to win the title back next season”
May 9, 2015, The Metro: “Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola ‘agrees to sign for Manchester City’”
May 10, 2015, Daily Express: “Manuel Pellegrini faces the sack as Man City begin complete summer overhaul”
And he’s replaced by…
May 15, 2015, Daily Express: “Chelsea hero Carlo Ancelotti AGREES summer move to Manchester City”
Or not…
Posted: 1st, July 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Paul Pogba heads to Manchester City for £60m and Barcelona to be ‘happy’
Trasnfer Balls: The Sun days Manchester CIty are “close” to paying £60million battle for Juventus and France star Paul Pogba.
With City fans excited the Sun then supplies the facts:
Etihad boss Manuel Pellegrini believes he has beaten off Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid to capture the most sought-after young star in football.
Believes?
And City hope the signing of midfield powerhouse Pogba, 22, from Juventus will be tied up before they make a final move for Liverpool rebel Raheem Sterling.
Hopes?
They believe he will make them a major force in the Champions League and increase their global support.
Ana what does that mean for City’s £50m chase for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling?
City’s determination to land Pogba means they may hang fire on making another bid for Sterling.
May?
All total balls, then.
And as the Daily Mail puts it:
Paul Pogba ‘very excited’ to join Barcelona
Adding:
Barcelona presidential election candidate Joan Laporta has said that Paul Pogba wants to come to the Catalan club…
Such are the facts…
Posted: 26th, June 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Liverpool’s Kolo Toure and ‘Flora’ Ntonya’s post-Yaya al fresco election night sex
In “Stingy Kolo gave me a £10 tip… my window cleaner clients pay more”, the Sun hears more from Sandra Ntonya, the woman who claims to have met Manchester City’s married Yaya Toure in a Sainsbury’s and shagged him for cash.
Sandra Ntonya now says she’s also had sex with Yaya’s brother, Liverpool’s Kolo Toure in his spare bedroom, garden and dining room. We peek through the clean windows at chez Toure:
THE £140-an-hour hooker linked to Premier League ace Yaya Toure has told how she romped with his footie brother Kolo. Sandra Ntonya, 34, enjoyed a string of sex sessions at the married Liverpool defender’s home and in his Mercedes. But she blasted the £60,000-a-week star as “stingy”, saying: “He only gave me a £10 tip. I have clients who are window cleaners who pay better.”
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Posted: 21st, June 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Liverpool ‘sources’ imagaine a £50m Manchester Bid for Raheem Sterling
Transfer Balls: a look at rubbish football rpeoting in the mainstream media. Today the Daily Express says Manchester will pay £50m for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling. Having had a £40m offer rejected, the Express is hardly alone in reasoning is that City will offer more for the talented young English player.
The Express says this is an “exclusive”. And it is one – in much the same way that the contents of you toilet are exclusive to that toilet.
John Richardson writes:
As Sunday Express Sport has revealed Liverpool are prepared to sell the 20-year-old but not for a penny under £50 million.
As all papers, blogs, radio stations and carrier pigeons have also revealed, Sterling wants to leave Liverpool and the Reds wants to get as much as they can for the player.
Sources close to the Merseyside club have indicated that City won’t drop their interest for the sake of another £10 million in a summer in which they are committed to bringing in top English talent.
These sources are unnamed. They are also on the Liverpool side of the deal. The Express‘ scoop about what Manchester City will do contains not a single word from anyone at Manchester City.
Posted: 21st, June 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Liverpool turn down £40m Raheem Sterling bid
Manchester City’s £40m Raheem Sterling bid will not to be succesful. Liverpool are digging their heels in, demanding £50 million for the English tyro. QPR, Sterling’s old club watch with intersted – 20% of any fee goes to them.
City have offered £35 plus £5m in performance-related payments.
City are desperate for homefrown talent to ensure that they comply with Uefa regulation. And they are the only City to have made any official offer for him.
But Sterling wants to play in London. Which leaves Sterling hoping that Arsenal or Chelsea offer Liverpool that £50m. Good luck waiting for that, Raheem.
Posted: 18th, June 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Liverpool await the inevitable Manchester City £50m bid for Sterling
The less he plays for the Liverpool, the more his value rises. So it is for Raheem Sterling, who is now the subject of a £40m bid from desperate Manchester City.
Liverpool will, of course, reject the offer. City have upped their bid from £30m to £40m in a matter of days. Liverpool know that making City wait for prime, young English talent will only increase his price.
Liverpool want £50 million for Sterling. When that was announced, it looked high. But now it looks reasonable.
City will make the offer. And it looks very much like no-one else will.
Posted: 17th, June 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Raheem Liverpool’s Sterling is exclsuive to Manchester City
In an “EXCLUSIVE” the Daily Express says “Arsenal and Real Madrid join Man City in race for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling”.
But they don’t. They haven’t. The only bids for Sterling have some from Manchester United (an unofficial enquiry about buying the player for £25m) and Manchester City (£25m plus £5m if he turns out to be any good for them).
John Richardson’s exclusive hangs on not a single fact. All he writes is:
Liverpool are expecting the first official move from the Spanish giants in the next few days while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a confirmed admirer of the winger.
Bids from Madrid and Arsenal for Sterling: none.
Such are the facts.
Posted: 15th, June 2015 | In: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
Manchester City’s Yaya Toure and Sandra Ntonya in Sainsbury’s sex shocker
Manchester City’s Yaya Toure is the subject of the Sun’s story that he has been allegedly seeing a “£140-an-hour hooker”. The story begins with this tremedous line:
Sandra Ntonya, 34, told last night how she exchanged a string of texts with Man City star’s mobile to meet near a Sainsbury’s car park.
Product placement is everything. You can imagine the Sainsbury’s marketing team working out how to milk claims that a £200,000-a-week footballer knows the way to their shop.
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Posted: 14th, June 2015 | In: Manchester City, Reviews, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Manchester City to offer £60m and £86m for Paul Pogba
Transfer Balls – a look at shonky reporting in the newspapers.
The Sun says Manchester City are readying a £60m bid for Juventus and France player Paul Pogba. They will offer Pogba £225,000-a-week to play for them.
Also, having seen their £30m bid for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling knocked back, the Sun says City are to offer £40m for the wantaway England player.
How the Sun knows any of this is not made known. The story contains not a single source.
The Daily Mail says City will offer an “audacious” £58m for Pogba.
The Mirror says the story of Pogba to City for £60-odd millions is rooted in a report in Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport. We learn – and this thanks to Google translate:
It is not yet 100 million assumed by his agent Mino Raiola, but now close enough. Paul Pogba is the wet dream of the most prestigious clubs in Europe and yesterday one of the suitors came forward with an offer…: we are talking about Manchester City, who is willing to spend 80 million Euros…
Sources cited: none.
Mention of Pogba’s agent: yes.
And hold on a moment. The Daily Express trumps everyone by noting:
“Manchester City are ready to break the world transfer record fee to sign Chelsea target Paul Pogba… City are willing to pay over £86m to get the Frenchman ahead of other interested clubs including Manchester United.”
Wow, indeed. Three different bids from City for Pogba in a single day.
Such are the facts.
Posted: 13th, June 2015 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment