Manchester City have been busy in the transfer market identifying targets according to newspapers.
Who are they eyeing up? Here are five who have been linked this week.
Bologna playmaker Gaston Ramirez is this week mooted to be a target for the Premier League champions after Roberto Mancini expressed his admiration for the striker. The Uruguayan is just 21, and has scored 12 goals in 57 games for his club to date. He is valued at around £14 million, and Mancini described him as ‘a great player with great potential.’ His agent is pushing for a move/payday too, claiming a month ago this would be his last season at Bologna.
The Mail reported that Manchester City are re-igniting their interest in Wesley Sneijder. City were reported to be close to doing a deal last summer, with rivals Manchester United also interested. Sneijder has had a difficult season with form and injury, but his reputation remains high and he is expected to star at Euro 2012 for the Dutch. Whether City’s interest this summer is genuine or not remains to be seen.
Reports that City are chasing Robin van Persie refuse to go away, with the Premier League Golden Boot winner refusing to sign a new contract at Arsenal. A report yesterday in the Mirror claimed City are planning on selling Edin Dzeko to Bayern Munich and signing Van Persie but the German champions have rubbished the rumour. It also looks like City have made no offer to Arsenal, but it seems likely they are pursuing him, and may even have tested the waters with an enquiry via his agent.
Napoli attacker Ezequiel Lavezzi is likely to leave the Coppa Italia winners this summer after the club finished just fifth in Serie A. The player’s agent said there is a six-club bidding war for his clients services, with City one of the team’s linked. Chelsea and Liverpool have both also been suggested as destinations for the Argentine, with French club PSG also believed to be among the front runners for the player signature, who could cost around £30 million.
This one we are filing under ‘mega bid’ as that is what it would take for Newcastle United to agree to the sale of their star striker. Nevertheless the Mail reported on Wednesday that both Manchester City and Manchester United are monitoring the Senegal ace. The striker scored 13 in 14 games since arriving in January, but City would need to move one of their four strikers on before sanctioning a bid, bearing in mind they have John Guidetti too. Unless Cisse requests a move himself, we can’t see this one having any legs, whatever the papers may claim.
Are there any truth in any of these rumours? Which of the five would you like the most and which is most likely?
image: © dullhunk
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