Is the man that allegedly kept Barry out of Liverpool about to pair up with him at City?
Vital Manchester City regular, C1TY SL1CKER send us the following article.
Reports in various newspapers in the last couple of days have been reporting that Xabi Alonso is one of many transfer targets for Manchester City.
Mark Hughes allegedly has a rather large, and impressive, list of players he wishes to bring into the club, the same list reportedly used to persuade Gareth Barry to join the club.
Liverpool’s interest in Gareth Barry had been widely reported after they had had five bids rejected by Aston Villa last year, after refusing to meet the £18 million asking price.
It was very much expected that Liverpool would follow up their interest this summer, but were beaten by a swift swoop by Manchester City. It has now emerged that Liverpool would have needed to sell Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso in order to afford the £12 million paid by Manchester.
It has been revealed in the last few days however, that Liverpool’s parent club, owned by Tom Hicks and George Gillett, has lost over £46 million is the last year, to top on to the owners already present debts. It is now expected that Rafael Benitez will a have his transfer budget slashed, and is expected to sell before he buys.
This need to sell for Liverpool has opened the door for the transfer of Xabi Alonso, a long term target of Real Madrid. Manchester City however would be willing to offer the Spaniard large sums of cash, regular team football and of course the bonus of not needing to move house.
Alonso’s transfer seems more likely because of the alleged feud between himself and Benitez because of Alonso feeling he has never had a certain future at Liverpool since their interest in Barry.
Liverpool fans are likely to protest the sale of Alonso, a player of which many regard as important to their squad as Steven Gerrard. Manchester City fans on the other hand, would definitely welcome a move for the Spaniard, who would be teaming up with other midfield aces such as Stephen Ireland and of course Gareth Barry. Such a move however, may see the back of Brazilian playmaker Elano, who, despite expressing his interest in signing a new contract, has invited Inter Milan to make an offer for him.
Manchester City are also expected to try and complete their list of transfer targets before the squad fly out to South Africa in mid-July, as Mark Hughes has expressed his interest in smooth and swift transfers, before selling fringe players such as Gelson Fernandes and Benjani. City are reported to have a pre-contract agreement with Samuel Eto’o, who has reportedly been won over by large sums of cash and the club’s ambitious plans. Other targets are said to include Carlos Tevez, Roberto Merino and Edin Dzeko.
Whatever happens, it is going to be a very interesting transfer market for Manchester City and its fans, who will start their attempt to challenge the top four within the next few years.
Many thanks C1TY SL1CKER.
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