City News & Rumour Mill

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Out-of-favour Manchester City striker Rolando Bianchi has revealed he will consider his position at the club in December. The Italian, who was Sven Goran Eriksson's first signing as City boss, is frustrated at his lack of first team action. Bianchi has started only three of the team's nine Premier League games so far with Emile Mpenza Eriksson's preferred option in attack. The former Reggina hit-man has indicated he could well move on in the January transfer window if his situation at Eastlands does not improve.

[kennethlindheim]

Surprising that a poor player like Mpenza can keep a £8m striker on the bench. Bianchi should be played more. With City's midfield his link up would be brilliant.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Eriksson want more pace up front and that's why he prefer Mpenza over Bianchi.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Palermo's Amauri has been linked with Man City, although the Sicilian club are far from keen to see their star striker leave.

[unitedfan]

Manchester City have joined the chase to sign Partizan Belgrade starlet Stevan Jovetic.



The 17-year-old is rated as one of the finest prospects in Europe and both Manchester United and Real Madrid have already made contact with Partizan about the youngster.


Scouts from across the continent have been checking on the Montenegro international - who can play anywhere along the forward line - and he has not disappointed this term with seven goals in just 12 games.


City have now thrown their hat into the ring to land Jovetic after Sven Goran Eriksson dispatched his right hand man Tord Grip to hold talks with Partizan.


Grip met with Partizan's general manager Gordan Petric last week and the Swede attended a couple of games in Serbia.



Talks


Former Dundee United star Petric admitted talks had taken place but stressed Jovetic would not be moving in January and that no deal had been agreed with any club.


"We wont be selling Jovetic this January," Petric insisted.


"We are aware that he will go sooner or later, but we wouldn't let go of his services earlier than the end of 2008.


"Of course, it depends what kind of offers we will be getting for him, but personally, I think it wouldn't be good for him to leave for abroad so soon at this age.


"The talks are going on, and City are not the only club in question."


Partizan president Tomislav Karadzic added that the club are not looking to sell, yet.


"The money on offer can be tempting, but we are not planning to lose such a bright talent so early," he told the Serbian press.


Jovetic is currently valued at around £7million but when Partizan sell, if he continues to improve as he has done in recent months, the teenager could well fetch over £10million.

[Jager]

Sven stages Mancini swoop Sunday 6 January, 2008


Sven Goran Eriksson is looking to Serie A again for his shopping, as Manchester City line up a bid for Amantino Mancini.

The former England, Sampdoria and Lazio boss has been repeatedly linked with a series of Italian-based talents since taking over at Eastlands.

The latest target is reported to be Roma winger Mancini and, according to the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ there is a £16m offer on the table.

Although the Giallorossi turned down a similar sum from Olympique Lyonnais in the summer, Mancini’s form has been disappointing over the past six months and he has not extended the contract which expires in 2009.

If Rolando Bianchi is included as part of the exchange deal, it is possible that Mancini could be released for a spell in the Premier League.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Trim]

Man City Linked With Heerenveen’s Alves, Bayern’s Podolski & Lyon’s Fred

After a move to AZ Alkmaar failed to materialise, Afonso Alves is looking for a move to the Premiership with Manchester City linked with a £14million swoop for the prolific Brazilian striker.

Afonso Alves, who currently plays for Heerenveen, had been linked with a move to Middlesbrough in the summer.

"My dream is to play in the Premier League in England. That will help me stay in the Brazil set-up," Alves told the Sunday Mirror.

Apart from Alves, Eriksson is also reportedly looking at Bayern Munich’s Germany international striker Lukas Podolski and Brazilian ace Fred, who plays for Lyon.

Source

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sven Goran Eriksson has moved for Werder Bremen midfielder Diego. The People says Diego, 23, wants to come to the Premier League and Eriksson has made contact with him through his family and advisers. The player is also open to joining City.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Estudiantes striker Pablo Piatti is interesting Manchester City. The People says City chief Sven Goran Eriksson is looking into a move for £10m Estudiantes attacker Piatti, the youngster hailed as a new Lionel Messi in Argentina.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Danny Gabbidon is interesting Manchester City. City boss Sven Goran Eriksson sees Gabbidon as ideal cover for first-choice defensive pairing Richard Dunne and Micah Richards.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sven hunting Rangers hitman

Manchester City are looking north of the border for a new striker - with Rangers' prolific striker Kris Boyd in their sights.
The Rangers striker, 24, is the second highest goalscorer in SPL history with 113 goals.

But his wages are tiny compared to those in the Premier League and City are ready to offer a double-your-money deal worth £25,000 a week to tempt the Scot to Eastlands.

Sven Goran Eriksson is set to be given a £100m war chest to turn City into serious contenders for a European place next season - with a striker at the top of his wishlist.

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[Mighty T.A.L.]

City target £10m Brazil star

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has identified Diego, the outstanding Brazil midfielder, as his principal target in the summer transfer market.

The Guardian newspaper reports that the Bundesliga footballer of the year could cost in excess of £10m from Werder Bremen but Eriksson believes it will be money well spent on a player who, at the age of 23, has already won 34 caps.

The former Santos player - full name Diego Ribas da Cunha -has a contract with Werder Bremen until 2010 but is thought to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Samaras rules out City return

Georgios Samaras has confirmed he has no intention of heading back to Manchester City when his loan spell at Celtic draws to a close.

The Greece forward has made a decent impression at Celtic and has boosted his chances of making it to Euro 2008 during his loan spell.

Samaras is undecided on whether to remain at Celtic, but has made it clear he will not be heading back to Eastlands.

"I'm glad I'm here at Celtic, trying to help me to the European Championship in the summer," he said.

"That is why I want them to help them win the title but what will happen in the summer, I don't know.

"All I know is I won't be going back to Manchester City. That is for sure. I don't want to go back there.

"I am happy just now but in the future I want to be the first striker at the club.

"The manager has to tell me I will be one of his first-choice strikers.

"After the summer we will sit round the table and see what happens. Staying at Celtic is my first choice but only time will tell."

Source: Setana Sports

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Manchester City's hopes of an automatic berth in the Uefa Cup through the Fair Play League have been dealt a blow by the news that Norway have leapt above England in the national table, reports the Manchester Evening News.
If it stays that way on April 30, the cut off date, then the automatic place will wing its way to Scandinavia leaving the Premier League's representative to enter into a lottery for two other places.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

City linked to Wright-Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips could be making a surprise return to Manchester City in the summer. The England star has struggled to hold down a regular starting place in the Chelsea side.

Instead, Avram Grant has utilised the pace of Wright-Phillips late on in games as a substitute.

£10 million could tempt Chelsea to sell a player they signed for almost double that fee three years ago from City.

The player himself would accept the transfer, particularly after the rapturous reception he receives whenever he makes an appearance at Eastlands.

The fact that City, thanks to the funds of Thaksin Shinawatra, can now match the big wages Wright-Phillips currently earns at Chelsea will no doubt further persuade the winger to agree terms.

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