It’s not felt like the most arduous summer in terms of football deprivation, thanks to the World Cup, but now the season draws tantalisingly near, excitement levels are peaking.
City take on Arsenal on Sunday in what must, must, must always be described as “the traditional annual season curtain raiser”, but will there be any additions or subtractions from the champions’ squad before then?
According to most of the newspapers you’re waking up to this morning, Jack Rodwell is moving to Sunderland in a deal worth either £8m or £10m – depending on who you believe.
Louise Taylor of the Guardian goes with the latter: “With the deal expected to be completed on Tuesday Gus Poyet is on the brink of pulling off quite a transfer coup as Rodwell had been pursued by a queue of Premier League rivals.
“It seems that during a round of talks with assorted suitors last week Rodwell identified Sunderland as his preferred destination.
“An England international, he cost £12m when he swapped Everton for City in 2012 but struggled to establish himself in the first team at the Etihad, making only seven Premier League starts – and scoring two goals – during his City tenure.
“Barring an audacious late hijacking by another club, Rodwell – 6ft 2in and with three senior England caps – promises to satisfy the Sunderland manager’s desire for a “box-to-box midfielder.”
Elsewhere, there’s a bit of a weird one in the Express as City appear to have been ruled out of contention for the signature of Radamel Falcao.
A weird one on me at least as I haven’t read us being linked with him this summer but, never mind what I think, here’s Express journalist David Wright with the scoop.
“Monaco striker Radamel Falcao admits he is not paying attention to transfer speculation this summer,” Wright… writes.
“The Colombia international has attracted plenty of interest from the Premier League this summer, as well as being strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
“Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and City have all been keeping tabs on the 28-year-old target man, who only moved to Monaco from Atletico Madrid last summer.
“Falcao has been out of action for the last six months, but returned at the Emirates Cup on Sunday to score the only goal of the game as Monaco beat hosts Arsenal 1-0.”
...Daily Express...
Finally, one man who definitely has been linked with the club before is reportedly on the brink of a long-protracted move to the Etihad.
Eliaquim Mangala, a familiar name to regular visitors to this gossip column, could be a City player within the next 48 hours, according to Simon Jones of the Daily Mail.
“The 23-year-old was due to return to training with the Portuguese club on Tuesday after being on World Cup duty with France,” the story reads.
“City, meanwhile, are considering loan requests from Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna for 23-year-old midfielder Bruno Zuculini who joined last month from Racing in a £3m deal.”
As I’m sure you know by now, you can read confirmed transfer stories here on mcfc.co.uk when the negotiations are completed, the medicals are passed and the contracts are signed.
