Something will have to give and give soon in a number of City squad cases. Adebayor, Onuoha, Bellamy, SWP, Weiss and Santa Cruz remain names in the frame for the offski…
There’s been a cageyness to this summer’s transfer activity that can best be explained by clubs keeping a wary eye on future financial regulations. It’s looking increasingly likely that some serious brinkmanship can be expected surrounding a host of proposed moves before August is out.
City’s activity remain relatively sedate at this time where the bigger unwanted names in the squad are concerned. If rumours are to be believed, very few bids have been made if any for the biggest earners Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz. Daft salaries are said to be the reason why but this correspondent reckons clubs are poised to press the fax button as late as possible in order to secure hefty knock down fees to offset the wage hikes neccessary.
It could well be that City will acquiesce. The club’s incoming transfer policy has been to bring in trophy hungry young internationals since Roberto Mancini took over the reigns in an effort to build a squad dynasty ready for when those regulations bite. Jettisoning older cargo is clearly the aim. VMC understands that City want permanent exits in preference to loans in this department.
It’s the more youthful line of thought that suggests City will maintain efforts to sign Arsenal’s Samir Nasri as opposed to Internazionale’s Wesley Sneijder this week. The latter was hopelessly overpowered by City’s midfield in Dublin last weekend.
Still, the Etihad Stadium exit door intrigue continues. 32 year old Craig Bellamy allegedly refuses to go quietly into the night and is intent on seeing out the final year of his lucrative Mark Hughes desperation fuelled contract.
Another Hughes beneficiary Roque Santa Cruz will celebrate his 30th birthday this month and it’s anybody’s guess where he will end up. In fact, he appears to have slipped off the radar completely.
27 year old Emmanuel Adebayor has been in and out of the news for weeks now and his preferred choice of joining Real Madrid is looking decidedly ropey. Even erstwhile rag Ladyboy Riverdancer is calling for no more striker signings at the Bernabeu! All eyes on ‘Arry Redknapp and his Spurs empire, could Adebayor wind up an already acutely depressed Arsenal faithful yet further?
Elsewhere, Vladmir Weiss, who has had an excellent pre season won’t be rejoining Rangers on loan, although he’s stated that one day he’d like to return there. Mancio rates him, otherwise he wouldn’t have featured this past month. Maybe the lad could yet stick around for what is going to be a marathon season. It could well be that Shaun Wright-Phillips who has also excelled will make Mancio’s Premier League 25 depending on what happens in the coming week or so.
City fan Nedum Onuoha is another Blue intent on staying put. He’s turned down the opportunity to join Queen’s Park Rangers today. You won’t find many supporters holding out for The Chief’s departure, but it’s clear that if he does stay in East Manchester his opportunities will be limited.
Back to Nasri. Outside of the imminent conclusion one way or the other of Tevezgate, the creative load sharing with the stunning David Silva has become a critical issue. Expect City to make an offer that Wenger will be told he cannot refuse by the end of this week.
CITY’S SUMMER SQUAD STORY SO FAR:
IN:
Sergio Aguero (undisc)
Gael Clichy (undisc)
Stefan Savic (undisc)
OUT:
Jerome Boateng (undisc)
Javier Garrido (free)
Shay Given(undisc)
David Gonzalez (loan)
Jo (undisc)
Michael Johnson (loan)
Scott Kay (free)
Shaleum Logan (free)
Ben Mee (loan)
James Poole (free)
Kieran Trippier (loan)
Andrew Tutte (free)
Javan Vidal (free)
Patrick Vieira (retired)
James Wood (free)
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
07 August 14:30: The rags, Wembley, CS
15 August 20:00 Swansea, Etihad Stadium, PL
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