As far as transfer rumours are concerned, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s name has been added to the list of reported targets.
Neil Fissler of The Express believes there’s a possibility the former Southampton academy graduate could leave the Emirates Stadium this summer and expects City to consider a bid.
“The England star is coming into the final year of his current contract and last week told Arsene Wenger that he won’t be signing a new deal,” he writes.
“Liverpool have been keeping close tabs on his contract talks but it is now seen as a straight shoot out between Premier League champions Chelsea and City.
“Chelsea are today due back in London from playing the Gunners in China and will formally table an offer within 48 hours.
“But that is likely to only smoke out interest from Manchester City who will switch their attentions from Alexis Sanchez.”
Sticking with the midfield theme, but moving onto a man who definitely does play in sky blue, Yaya Toure has called for a fast start to the Premier League campaign.
Quoted in The Mirror, the Ivorian said: “City is now a club that has to win something every year, you know.
“I don’t want to say how many trophies we have to win, but it’s important to say we have to win something.
“I think we’re a team that creates more chances than the rest, but our finishing was not so strong last season.
“We need to start the season quickly. If we have the chances, we have to score.
“We have to show that killer instinct and be more clinical. When the chances come, we need to score.”
To one of City’s new recruits now, and Kyle Walker has received well-wishes from former team-mate Kieran Trippier.
The full-back, an ex-Blue himself, has shed light on the pair’s time at Spurs, explaining that they maintained a good relationship, despite both vying for the right-back berth.
ESPN carry the story, in which Trippier said: “We are very close, been together with England since Under-19s.
“He has his move, I am happy for him and now it’s my opportunity to keep that spot.
“We’ve been learning off each other since I came here. He was the starting right-back so we had loads of discussions about each other’s qualities.
“I think we bounced off each other. There was no bitterness there, whoever was playing. People, fans, don’t see that.
“We really got on and I learned a lot from him and hopefully he can kick on now.”
That’s all for today, Blues, but we’ll be back with more paper talk tomorrow.
