City News & Rumour Mill

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is ready to offer £12 million for Middlesbrough striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

The Observer says Eriksson will have £30m to spend before the start of the new season, and will offer Middlesbrough £12m for striker Yakubu, according to a source close to the club.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Juve duo linked with City

Juventus pair Giorgio Chiellini and Manuele Blasi are rumoured to be strong targets for Manchester City.

Chiellini recently revealed he was considering his future at Juve, leading to speculation of interest from England in the Italian Under 21 defender.

Liverpool were mooted to be suitors of Chiellini, but it appears new City manager Sven Goran Eriksson has set his sights on the young stopper.

Reports in Italy claim City have made a €10million (£6.7million) bid for Chiellini which may tempt Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri to sell.

Meanwhile, Eriksson also wants midfielder Blasi, who spent last season on loan at Fiorentina from the Old Lady.

According to reports, City have already reached an agreement with Juventus for the transfer of the Italian international to Eastlands.

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Man City have Castillo offer accepted by Olympiacos

Manchester City have had a £10 million bid for Nery Castillo accepted by Olympiacos.

The Mirror says City have agreed a deal with Olympiacos for Castillo, who impressed during the recent Copa America, after a two-man delegation flew to Athens.

The 23-year-old is apparently keen to hold out for a bigger move and his agents are said to have contact Chelsea and Real Madrid in recent days.

However Eriksson is hoping to convince Castillo that a move to Eastlands is the right one for him to make at this stage of his career.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Man City set to land £15M Zigic

Manchester City are chasing Racing Santander centre-forward Nikola Zigic.

AS says City are already in advanced negotiations with Racing for the big centre-forward, with a fee of around £15 million close to being agreed.

While Racing would like to hang onto Zigic, the board cannot afford to reject City's offer, which would be the biggest fee paid for a player in Racing's history.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Man City in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk for Elano

Manchester City are in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk over a fee for Brazil international midfielder Elano Blumer.

The Mirror says City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is trying to land the 26-year-old, who has become one of Carlos Dunga's key men in the national side over the past couple of years - and now wants to come to England.

Ukrainian side Donetsk are super-rich and do not want to lose Elano, but negotiations are at an advanced stage and a deal should go through soon as Eriksson pieces together an attractive, cosmopolitan new team.

Owner Thaksin Shinawatra's advisers have let slip that City are signing a Brazilian - and Elano, signed by Shakhtar from Santos two years ago, is the mystery man.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

City lead Zigic chase

Skysports.com understands Manchester City are leading the chase for Serbian striker Nikola Zigic.

City boss Sven Goran Eriksson has earmarked the Racing Santander front man as he looks to bolster his attack for the new season.

The Swede is a big admirer of the towering forward and is keen to bring him to Eastlands in a new-look strike-force with Rolando Bianchi.

Zigic's displays have caught the eye of teams across Europe with the 26-year-old netting 13 goals in his first season in Spain last term.

City are hoping to steal a march on their rivals by agreeing a deal with Santander for Zigic.

The player's agent Milan Calasan, along with his UK business partner John Viola, is brokering a deal for Zigic and he confirmed City were interested in signing in the big forward.

"I have been to England and there have been some proposals for Nikola," Calasan told skysports.com.

"There is interest from Manchester City and we will see what happens.

"Manchester City are an interesting club and Mr Eriksson is a very good coach."

Calasan admitted that although there is interest from clubs in other countries, Zigic's preference would be to move to England.

"All players want to play in England," added Calasan. "The Premier League is one of the best competitions in the world.

"Nikola had the chance to go to West Ham last year, but it did not happen and that is one of his biggest regrets."

Santander president Francisco Pernia has confirmed City are at the front of the queue for Zigic

"We have had interest from six clubs, but it is Manchester City who are the team that has come closest to what we think is the right deal for the club. But the deal is not yet done," Pernia is quoted as saying in the Mirror.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Man City offer Castillo family dream fortune

Manchester City target Nery Castillo will hand his dad a £2.5m gift if he says "yes" to Sven Goran Eriksson.

The Mexican striker is due to decide on a £10m transfer to Eastlands from Greek outfit Olympiacos. Castillo's Uruguayan father, Nery senior, is also his agent and has a 25 per cent stake in his son, part of the deal when he went to Olympiacos at 16.

And while the Greek side will offer Castillo a pay rise tomorrow, the young hitman is expected to leave the club - and make a killing for the family.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Nantes midfielder Emerse Fae.French sources say the Ivory Coast international has already penned a four-year contract with City after Nantes accepted their £2.5 million offer this week.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Reported Manchester City target Nery Alberto Castillo has agreed a €15million (£10.1million) move to Shakhtar Donetsk, according to widespread reports in Greece.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Manchester City are signing Real Sociedad midfielder Javi Garrido.Garrido's £1.5 million move to City is expected to be confirmed by Real today after club officials last night admitted that "the transfer isn't yet official, but, yes, it is very close".

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Manchester City have joined Portsmouth in their interest in Sevilla striker Fredi Kanoute.Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido is prepared to sell Kanoute for £10 million, which is well within City's spending power.

[Jager]

Bresciano next for City? Friday 3 August, 2007

Palermo Coach Stefano Colantuono has hinted that Mark Bresciano is likely to depart Sicily this summer for Manchester City.

The Premiership outfit have been on a Serie A shopping spree, signing Rolando Bianchi from Reggina, Valeri Bojinov from Fiorentina and lining up Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini.

The latest reports suggest that Australian midfielder Bresciano is the next name on Sven Goran Eriksson’s wish list and the Rosanero tactician has confirmed the rumours.

“His sale is almost certain, but I am not worried,” said Colantuono. “He is a good player, but I only want determined and motivated men who are eager to be part of this project.

“I would have fielded him down one of the flanks next season, but it’s not a problem and we will find an adequate replacement.

“We had already targeted a player, but the President of the club who owns him does not want to sell him.”

Colantuono outlined the three basic characteristics his side need in order to succeed next season.

“I want them to be determined, focused and eager to do well. Without these qualities we will go nowhere,” he said.

“We will have to prove that we know how to suffer and fight, which we will have to do until the final minute of every match.”

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Manchester City have revealed they have made Ousmane Dabo, Danny Mills and Paul Dickov available for transfer.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

City deal for Bresciano stalls

Palermo have told midfielder Mark Bresciano to return to the club as his move to Manchester City looks set to collapse.

The Italians had agreed terms over the Australian international - who looked se to become Sven Goran Eriksson's ninth signing of the summer at a coast of just over £5million.

However, Palermo have now stated that City have changed their stance and that they are not willing to accept the new terms.

Palermo not happy

"City are not respecting the initial terms of our agreement," explained Palermo's director of sport Rino Foschi.

"The economic plan they proposed today is not the same we had dictated and if the club does not make a step backwards before this evening [Tuesday] is over, I will no longer give my blessing to the transfer. We are not willing to wait any longer. Rules must be respected.

"Manchester City really want Bresciano, but the more time goes on, the more convinced I am nothing will come of it.

"These are not the right conditions to reach an agreement, even if we tried to make the player happy. It's difficult to see another ending to this, so the player should meet us at training from Wednesday."

Told to stay

Foschi insisted there were no problems with keeping Bresciano at the club.

"Bresciano had asked us a while back for this experience in England, but he is nonetheless content at Palermo and is more ready than ever to work with Coach Stefano Colantuono, even if he may be a little bitter," he continued.

"Bresciano should be grateful to the club, because they gave him the opportunity to follow this dream. It was not our fault it didn't come true. I am sure Mark will work hard like the professional he is."

Source: Skysports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

City starlet signs on

Manchester City have handed a new deal to Ishmael Miller, skysports.com understand.

The exciting prospect is a product of City's highly acclaimed academy and has already made 17 first-team appearances for City.

New boss Sven Goran Eriksson is keen to have an English presence in his squad and he sees Miller as a part of the club's long-term future.

New deal

The 20-year has now agreed terms on a three-year deal, which seemingly ends suggestions he may be sold.

Miller has been strongly linked with a loan move, which Eriksson may well sanction - but the versatile performer will return to the City of Manchester Stadium, should he leave.

West Brom have been linked an