“The Blues skipper was back in training last week following his latest calf injury and though he was not ready to face the French champions on Wednesday night, he has a chance of being ready for their visit to the Etihad on Tuesday.
The Guardian’s Jamie Jackson shares this sentiment and believes a possible semi final place may convince Manuel Pellegrini to gamble on his captain’s fitness.
He states: “Pellegrini’s team will take what could prove two vital away goals into next week’s return, yet at Parc des Princes the defence was again shaky. This will further strengthen the manager’s wish to select Kompany for Tuesday, with City having a real chance of reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time.”
The Guardian also include quotes from the Manager, who is reported as saying: “We’ll see him [Kompany] during the week and what he improves. The last few days he’s worked very well. Now we must test him with more intensity and it’s very difficult to tell now.”
On to transfer rumours and City will need to fit a revolving door if you believe ESPN’s assertion that as many as eight players are target for a summer swoop.
The familiar names of Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stergen and Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan crop up again as Miguel Delaney suggests deals are already agreed for the German duo.
ESPN also believe defensive reinforcements could arrive in the form of John Stones and Atletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte.
Miguel writes: “City’s new transfer plans could see the club spend over £300 million gross this summer and Stones is expected to cost upwards of £35m, despite his difficulties at Everton lately, with Manchester United and Chelsea also seen to sign the versatile England international.
“French international Laporte signed a new contract with Bilbao in June that reportedly contains a €50m release clause but he fractured his ankle playing for France under-21s against Scotland last month.”
Sticking with the back four and The Mirror believe Villareal’s centre back Eric Bailly is a summer transfer target.
Indeed, Dave Kidd claims: “The Blues had scouts at the Spanish club’s Europa League match on Thursday to study 22-year-old Ivory Coast international.”
Bailly only arrived at El Submarino Amarillo from Espanyol 15 months ago, but Dave believes defensive additions are a priority for the Club, adding: “City need an overhaul in central defence — a fact reinforced by problems during their Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG in Paris on Wednesday.”
That’s it for today, but with the West Brom in town tomorrow, come back for more media musings!
