Let’s get straight to it, starting with stories linking the Blues with a move for Spain and Celta Vigo striker Nolito.
The Guardian’s chief football writer Daniel Taylor and Ed Aarons write: “Manchester City are confident of completing the signing of the Spain forward Nolito from Celta Vigo as Pep Guardiola steps up his recruitment drive for the new Premier League season.
“The 29-year-old, whose real name is Manuel Agudo Durán, is currently part of the Spain squad at Euro 2016 having scored 12 goals in La Liga last season. Barcelona had also registered an interest in signing the player, who began his career at Camp Nou before moving to Benfica and then Granada and has a release clause of €18m (£13.8m).”
The Daily Mail continue the theme via Pete Jenson’s piece: “Nolito, full-name Manuel Agudo Duran, was given his full Barcelona debut back in 2010 by Guardiola.
“He joined the club in 2008 to play for the B-team but was called for the first team two seasons later coming on for Pedro in a Copa del Rey game.
“He showed enough at the club to be offered a first team contract but he wanted regular first team football and that was always going to be more likely away from the Camp Nou.
“He went to Benfica in 2011 where he made a goalscoring start with two goals against Trabzonspor in the preliminary round of the Champions League.
“He also impressed Arsene Wenger in a friendly scoring and assisting as Benfica beat Arsenal 2-1 in a friendly. Wenger has even looked at him this summer as an alternative to Jamie Vardy but, like Luis Enrique, he has been beaten to the punch by Guardiola.”
Across to the Bundesliga now and The Sun’s report on the latest Leroy Sane situation, a player who has cropped up in this column many-a-time since the end of last season.
“Bayern have made a last-ditched attempt to snap-up the 20-year-old – but don’t want to sign him until next season,” Daniel Cutts writes.
“Schalke have been asked to hold onto the winger until Arjen Robben and Frank Ribery leave at the end of the coming campaign.
“Bayern will offer similar money and other incentives including first refusal on players if Schalke block Sane’s move to City.”
Now to Russia, who are reportedly keen on manager Manuel Pellegrini’s services according to a number of news outlets.
Sporting Life report: “The Russian Football Association (RFS) has apparently targeted the 62-year-old after coach Leonid Slutski departed on Monday following Russia’s 3-0 defeat to Wales at Euro 2016 which resulted in his side crashing out of the tournament.
“The Chilean’s contract with City expires on June 30, with the club having already announced the appointment of Pep Guardiola as his replacement.
“According to AS.com, Russia have offered Pellegrini a “millionaire” two-year contract to manage the country until the 2018 World Cup, to be played on home soil.”
And finally we can’t let the media round up pass without mention of that pass by David Silva that sent three Croatian defenders into the middle of last week in the build up to Alvaro Morata’s goal.
“‘When David Silva is on TV, you turn on your TV.’
“That was the view of one Manchester City fan page prior to Spain’s clash with Croatia in Group C at Euro 2016.”
More social reaction to the pass this way via Eurosport’s Le Buzz site.
