There’s also an update on John Stones after his half-time withdrawal against Belgium.
Let’s get to it, and first to a rumour that has sprung (resprung?) from Italy linking City with a move for centre-back Leonardo Bonucci.
Website Calciomercato reckon: “Premier League giants Manchester City are reportedly set to provide stiff competition to rivals United in the race for AC Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci.
“The Italian joined the Rossoneri from Juventus last summer for a fee of 42 million euros in what was one of the most shocking switches in Italian football in recent times. He appeared in 35 games last season and impressed for the club in his first full season.
“Corriere dello Sport report that Manchester City have joined the race to sign Bonucci, with United also in the race for the player.”
READ: World Cup 2018 last 16 - teams, matches, dates and times
Elsewhere, behind the enticing headline ‘The truth behind all those Man City transfer rumours’ - the Manchester Evening News gives its view on the current summer situation at City.
Blues reporter Stuart Brennan writes: “It is common knowledge that Jorginho and Riyad Mahrez are the two men who Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain identified as the men they feel will strengthen that squad.
“All other talk is nonsense, although clearly City are always on the lookout for an opportunity – if Mbappe became available, for instance.”
Finally to the World Cup, where a clutch of City players were in action as Belgium defeated England 1-0 in Group G.
Vincent Kompany made his return in the match and although Stones was taken off for England at half time - boss Gareth Southgate moved to allay any injury fears.
The Daily Mail report: “Stones took his seat on the England bench for the second half and could been seen sporting some heavy-looking strapping and ice around his left calf area - something that was apparently not immediately picked up by television commentators.
“However, Southgate confirmed in his post-match press conference the 24-year-old would be fit to face Colombia at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium on Tuesday evening and insisted that he had always planned to make that half-time switch.
“Stones had previously featured for the entirety of opening group wins over Tunisia and tournament debutants Panama, notching a brace of headers in a record-breaking 6-1 demolition of the latter at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.”
That’s all for today, we’ll be back same time, same place tomorrow!
