But there’s also some transfer gossip floating around and that’s where we’ll start this morning’s media roundup.
According to Ian McGarry and Duncan Castles, who were speaking on the Transfer Window podcast, City are interested in securing the signature of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The 22-year-old is highly-rated across Europe and is expected to be at the centre of a transfer tussle this summer.
Liam Bryce writing for the Daily Record writes: “Manchester City and Manchester United are set to battle it out for highly-rated Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
“The £80million-rated Serbia international has taken Serie A by storm this season and is attracting interest from top clubs across Europe.
“A hot topic in our latest Transfer Window podcast, transfer gurus Ian McGarry and Duncan Castles reveal that Milinkovic - who has been compared to Paul Pogba - has already received enquiries from City, Chelsea and Real Madrid.”
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Simon Curtis has previewed this Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Curtis highlights City’s close association with the competition, writing beautifully about our past triumphs, but warns that Arsenal pose a significant threat to our chances of a fifth League Cup triumph.
“History tells us two things: The League Cup has long been a tournament of choice for City, right from the early 1970s, when West Brom were beaten on a cabbage-patch pitch to start the decade,” he writes. “There was a loss to Wolves in 1974, when manager Ron Saunders forgot to play any defensive midfielders, while another win in 1976 against a flu-ridden Newcastle side brought three final appearances in the 70s alone.
“City’s trophy drought set in after the 1976 final and lasted into the modern era. Recently, the love affair with the League Cup has been resurrected, with this weekend’s match the club’s third final in the tournament in five years. A win to go alongside dramatic victories over Sunderland in 2014 and Liverpool two years ago would give City their fifth overall League Cup win.
“City and Arsenal have met on various occasions in the past in this competition, the first being in 1977-78, when Arsenal went through to the semifinals after a replay. Arsenal again prevailed in 1985-86 and once more the following season, during a period when the London side held a curse over City in all competitions. Between 1977 and 2006 City managed only three wins against Arsenal and, despite a clear improvement in modern times, the Gunners remain a side against which City traditionally have meagre returns. Only Liverpool in the Premier League era have caused the club more consistent headaches.”
That’s all for this morning’s roundup, Blues. Stay with us throughout the day as we continue to gear up for this weekend’s Wembley showdown.
