Should Manchester City fans be bracing themselves for a raft of late activity before the transfer deadline?
So far this summer Manchester City have signed Jack Rodwell and… well, that’s it. While a cooling off period was natural with regards to the club finances- and you shouldn’t overhaul a winning team, manager Roberto Mancini is said to be desperate to add new faces to his squad.
Here are five who have been linked with a move over the last few days, who could be playing at the Etihad come September.
With Adam Johnson gone, Scott Sinclair would be a natural replacement for the winger, and it has been confirmed that talks are ongoing between Swansea and Manchester City. Sinclair has just one year left on his contract and Swansea do not want to see him leave for nothing next summer. The sticking point holding up the deal is price, City have not yet bid over £7 million, and Swansea want closer to £10 million. Sinclair has featured once for the Swans already this season as a substitute against QPR, from which he scored. With time ticking down we expect an agreement to be reached on this one even if it takes until the final stages of deadline day.
Surely not another player leaving Arsenal to play for Manchester City? Well it could happen if reports this morning are to be believed. He only has one year left on his current Arsenal deal and has supposedly rejected a new one, and could cost around £15 million. Walcott is thought to be disillusioned at Arsenal after Van Persie and Song quit the club, and could follow Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri in moving to the Etihad. The Telegraph report City’s interest with Arsenal reluctantly prepared to cash in, and if a deal for Sinclair has fallen through, then Walcott is a tempting alternative.
City have been linked with a swap deal to sign Matija Nastasic from Fiorentina, which would see Stefan Savic going the other way. Discussions are already ongoing to facilitate such a move, and it would potentially be a good one, with the manager less than convinced on Savic’s ability. Nastasic is only 19 but played 27 times for the Viola last season and has already been capped by Serbia.
This one really would be the summer’s blockbuster deal, and would rival the £32 million Chelsea are reported to have paid for Eden Hazard. The Athletic Bilbao midfielder is also capable of playing in central defence, and his versatility would be especially useful for City. He was thought to have sealed a switch to German giants Bayern Munich, but they too are wary of stumping up his £31.7 million release clause. City are remain outsiders, but are known to be hovering, and even though Roberto Mancini has expressed that he is likely to be too expensive, he is keen on the player and will be working behind the scenes to push for it.
The Manchester Evening News yesterday reported that City are monitoring Inter Milan’s Brazilian defender Maicon. Micah Richards is out injured for several weeks and Mancini is looking at bringing him in. Maicon was linked with Chelsea earlier this summer and at 31 is thought to be keen on a move. He likely would not cost above £8 million, and Inter Milan would be unlikely to put up much resistance if an offer came in. There were reports that Mancini had approached the defender, although he this week denied it. He would certainly add a touch of stardust to City’s backline and offer an attacking option going forward, but would he be too attack-minded for Mancini’s liking?
Who would you like to see City bring in?
image: © daly3d
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