Rarely have stories of the Blues filled so many column inches with Dani Alves, Alexis Sanchez and today a new name to add to the list – Andres Iniesta.
City fans won’t mind reading stories associating with players of that calibre with moves to the Etihad, but they remain little more than transfer tittle-tattle, gossip and rumour.
Let’s get stuck into today’s offerings, starting with that Iniesta report in The Telegraph.
Here’s what they had to say: “Could Andres Iniesta be about to depart La Liga and arrive in the Premier League?
“That’s the tantalising prospect discussed across a few newspapers and websites this morning, but what are the chances?
“The Spanish legend had a fantastic relationship with Pep Guardiola during their successful partnership at Barcelona and now the two forces could be about to team-up again at Manchester City.
“Italian outlet Calciomercato says that Guardiola is keen to work alongside the midfielder again. Iniesta has one year left on his current deal at Barca and is yet to agree a new contract.
“Calciomercato report that Guardiola has contacted the 33-year-old to try and persuade him to link up at the Etihad, where he would hope to deliver a similar level of success again.”
Makes a good headline if nothing else!
One recurring story that is repeated in many media outlets today concerns Brazilian defender Dani Alves who has become something of a regular in this column over the past weeks.
Squawka are one of the many, suggesting the Juventus full-back’s move to the Premier League is imminent as they report: “Juventus defender Dani Alves has verbally agreed to join Manchester City on a two-year deal.
“The Brazil international has been heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with City in need of an experienced right-back following the departures of Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna.
“Alves will join City once his contract situation at Juventus is sorted out.
“Alves enjoyed much success while working with Guardiola at Barcelona and would surely relish the opportunity to play in the Premier League.
“Although he has just over a year remaining on his current deal at Juventus, there is a possibility that Alves could rescind his contract with the Italian club, which would enable him to join City.
“Alternatively, the 34-year-old could make the switch to City for a fee as low as £5 million, with it being suggested that Alves would earn around £4.3 million per year.”
And yet another world class talent to be continually linked to City is Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.
While it’s hard to imagine the Gunners wanting to part with their talisman, the back pages refuse to let this story die down.
The Metro are typical of many reports, coming from a third party angle, as they write: “Alexis Sanchez has agreed to join Manchester City this summer but a fee has not yet been reached with Arsenal, according to reports in Spain.
“Gerard Romero, who has a strong track record in reporting City’s transfers involving John Stones, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Nolito, claims that the Chile international has an agreement in place to move to Pep Guardiola’s side.
“But a transfer fee still has not been agreed between City and Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger adamant that the 28-year-old will not be sold.”
Finally, the M.E.N carry a snippet about Vincent Kompany and how the City supporters carried him through the most difficult period of his career.
It reads: “And the Belgian, whose name was sung throughout his troubles by fans who adore him, thinks that the old City defiance in the face of adversity – and a dollop of Mancunian loyalty - has helped him get back to fitness.
‘That kind of stuff has always happened for me at the right club, if I’m honest, because City fans have always been appreciative of a bit of a struggle, and what comes out at the end of it,” he said.
‘You don’t get judged, and you don’t get thrown away because you struggle at City.
‘That’s something to be associated with the Manc in general, so it’s always been a good place for me to come back and to keep fighting.
‘I’ve not been ostracised, or put aside by anyone. People have been understanding and they know I have always done everything I could to come back.
‘I wish it would have happened less but I am in the environment where people want to see me come back, and that helps.’
That’s all for today – more of the same tomorrow.
