Blues bid for Blackburn striker?
The Times tell us...
'Mark Hughes and Manchester City make move for Santa Cruz'
Manchester City intensified their bid to sign Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers last night as Mark Hughes looked to reassert his authority over a demoralised squad.
Hughes, the City manager, has been forced to contend with a series of problems in recent weeks, having identified Tal Ben-Haim and Elano among those responsible for a growing sense of disquiet in the dressing-room. But having sent a forceful message yesterday to any disgruntled players, it emerged that City have finally established formal contact with Blackburn as they try to secure the signing of Santa Cruz in a deal worth in the region of £15 million. Reports of an £8 million bid to sign Shay Given, the unsettled Newcastle United goalkeeper, were not confirmed by City officials.
John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, was quoted as saying yesterday lunchtime that he had yet to receive a formal offer from City for Santa Cruz, but contact has since been made between the clubs at boardroom level, with Hughes hoping that a deal for the Paraguay forward can be concluded sooner rather than later.
Hughes has spoken to Paul Aldridge, the City chief operating officer, to express frustration over the time taken to complete the proposed signings of Santa Cruz, Kolo Touré, the Arsenal defender, and Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy, the West Ham United duo. City have been frustrated by West Ham’s intransigence and have indicated that they will be forced to look elsewhere if the London club, having sought to sell Calum Davenport to Bolton Wanderers and Matthew Etherington to Stoke City, do not play ball.
The City manager has other targets, having identified Joleon Lescott, of Everton, as an alternative to Touré, and, with the signing of Wayne Bridge from Chelsea completed, Hughes maintains that his squad will be far stronger by the end of the month. He hopes to offload players such as Ben-Haim and Elano, but, in the meantime, has urged the malcontents in his squad to speak directly to him.
“All the players know if they have any complaints, they can knock on my door,” Hughes said. “That is how it has always been. You are going to get these kind of stories when things are not going as well as you would like.”
The Sun says...
'Ireland receives pay bonanza'
MANCHESTER CITY plan to reward Stephen Ireland’s sensational form with a double-your-money pay rise.
That will finally kill off any lingering speculation that the 22-year-old Irish international could leave Eastlands.
Several sides are lurking, with Arsenal in particular showing an interest.
Ireland signed a new deal just over 12 months ago, tying him to City until 2012.
Yet despite doubling his earnings then, to around £30,000 a week, he still lagged some way behind Micah Richards and Michael Johnson, who pick up almost twice that amount.
Now early talks have taken place to bring the midfielder’s pay into line with them, after a sparkling first half of the campaign.
Ireland has even outshone Robinho as THE success story of an otherwise disappointing few months and has already bagged nine goals this term.
City will follow the Ireland deal with an improved contract for Daniel Sturridge.
The rookie forward, 19, has already made 20 appearances and is rated as one of the best Eastlands prospects.
The Daily Mirror look at two possible exits...
'Blackburn and Newcastle battle for Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha'
Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha is at the centre of a battle between Wigan, Blackburn, Fulham, Newcastle and Paris St Germain.
Blackburn are believed to be particularly keen on the 22-year-old and Rovers boss Sam Allardyce would want Onuoha in part-exchange if City go for striker Roque Santa Cruz.
Newcastle need cover for the injured Habib Beye.
The Mirror adds...
'Manchester City flop Tal Ben Haim wants £3m Tottenham switch'
Tal Ben Haim wants to quit Manchester City and join Tottenham in a £3million switch - despite interest from other Premier League clubs.
The Israeli has told his agent to negotiate a deal to get him to Spurs after City signalled he could leave.
Ben Haim is wanted by Sunderland, former club Bolton and ex-boss Sam Allardyce at Blackburn but he is keen to go to the capital and team up with Harry Redknapp.
Meanwhile the Daily Mail add...
'John Terry: Sale of Wayne Bridge is blow for Chelsea'
Chelsea captain John Terry has backed Wayne Bridge to live up to his £12million price tag and admitted the defender's move to Manchester City this week has weakened his own club's options on the left wing.
Centre back Terry believes the City of Manchester Stadium is the perfect stage for Bridge, whose Chelsea career stalled once Ashley Cole became the club's first-choice left back in 2006.
Terry said of Bridge: 'He'll be missed and I'm still in shock a little bit because it's a shame to see one of the lads go who you have grown up with and been with a long time. I'm disappointed, but for him it was the right decision.
'We understand he's been here and tried to become a first-team regular but with him and Ash being the two best left backs around, it was difficult for him to break through and get as many games as he would have liked.
'I think he felt at 28 he needed to play week in, week out, and he will get that at Man City and show people he is right up there with Ash. Once Bridgey starts playing, people will realise how good he is.'
Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has vowed he will not play a 4-4-2 formation until he has a left-footed wide man to call upon.
So with Bridge gone and Florent Malouda injured, Scolari will persevere with 4-3-3, meaning a choice between Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in attack.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น