That’s what the digital and print media have for you this morning – little else apart from rumour and speculation has made it into today’s collection of headlines.
It must mean we’re edging closer to summer…Not that the Manchester weather appears aware of that.
Anyway, let’s dive straight in with a familiar name, shall we? Paul Pogba links really aren’t going anywhere, and the Daily Star have upped the ante this morning with a report claiming City are preparing a £70m bid for the France international.
Oof.
That would be a British record fee and the paper also claims it would necessitate up to four player sales to fund the cash.
Jeremy Cross writes: “Owner Sheikh Mansour believes Pogba can take his team to the next level by helping them win back the Premier League title and succeeding in the Champions League.
“But the billionaires face stiff competition from Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain for Pogba’s signature and must also keep in line with UEFA’s ‘Financial Fair Play’ regulations.
“Pogba will be at the centre of a huge bidding war this summer and will command a fee that looks set to dwarf the £60m United paid Real for Angel di Maria last summer.
“Etihad bosses will also have to meet Pogba’s wage demands of around £220,000-a-week - which means some star names will have to be sold.
“Starsport understands the likes of Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko will all be put up for sale to help fund a deal for Pogba.”
Sure to be a few twists, turns and indeed blind alleys on that one before the summer window shuts methinks!
Speaking of familiar names, here’s another you’ve heard multiple times before: Kevin de Bruyne.
Yes, he’s back in the gossip columns after his agent has apparently told City the club faces “hot” competition in order to sign him.
Presumably that means an extra nought on his fee?
The additional clubs are said to include Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, although no other Premier League clubs are named – yet, if every other transfer story past and present is an indicator!
Stuart Brennan writes in the Manchester Evening News: “Kevin de Bruyne’s agent has warned Manchester City that they face “hot” competition from Europe’s top clubs for the Belgian.
“The Blues have placed the 23-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder high on their summer shopping list, and it has become clear that he is set for a big-money move from the Bundesliga club.
“But Barcelona, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich are also interested in a player who has claimed 20 assists in the Bundesliga this season, equalling a record held by another Wolfsburg playmaker, Zvjezdan Misimovic and equalled by Bayern’s Franck Ribery.”
His agent is quoted as saying: “Of course we are flattered, but nothing is concrete with any European clubs. We have only had informal contacts, out of respect and propriety to this club.”
Hmm.
Finally, City could be about to lose out on one reported target – according to the Mirror Jay Rodriguez is opening contract talks with Southampton.
The Blues have been repeatedly linked with his signature together with Spurs, but this latest update claims the Saints are confident he can be persuaded to remain at St Mary’s.
The paper’s Darren Lewis scribes: “Southampton have opened talks over a new five-year deal with Jay Rodriguez – to try to fend off interest in him from Manchester City and Tottenham.
“The striker, whose Saints contract runs out in June 2016, is a long-standing Spurs target, despite more than a year out with a knee injury.
“Tottenham’s ex-Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of former Burnley star Rodriguez, who scored 17 goals in 40 appearances under him last season, and broke into the England team.
“Talks with Saints over a new contract were put on hold while he regained his fitness but there is now optimism Rodriguez could be back in action before the end of this campaign.”
That’s pretty much your lot today!
Of course, this is all just paper talk and no deals are done until you read confirmation right here on mcfc.co.uk.
More tomorrow…
