One player who has continually been linked with a move to City over the past five years is Real Madrid’s Isco.
Yesterday’s Media Watch touched on interest in the Spaniard and the Daily Express have followed suit this morning.
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They report: “Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is looking for a replacement for David Silva, with the 33-year-old having announced next season with be his last for the Citizens.
“Guardiola is keen to bring in Isco as his successor, reports Spanish publication Marca, with Real Madrid also open to selling their creative midfielder.
“Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is looking to overhaul his squad this summer after being brought back to the club for his second stint as manager.
“Real’s most expensive acquisition so far was Eden Hazard from Chelsea for an initial £88.5m in a deal that could rise to £130m.
“He will join new team-mates Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, defender Ferland Mendy from Lyon and Eder Militao from Porto.
“In order to recoup funds Zidane is willing to let several superstars leave the Bernabeu, including Isco, Gareth Bale, and James Rodriguez.
“Real want €80m (£71m) for Isco, report Marca, with several clubs across Europe showing interest in the 27-year-old.”
We’ll put transfer matters aside briefly to focus on England Women’s 3-0 win over Norway last night.
City, as ever, were well represented on the night with Karen Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Keira Walsh, Demi Stokes, Ellen White and Jill Scott all involved along with former stars Toni Duggan, Nikita Parris and Lucy Bronze – just the 10 City current and former stars, then!
Lionesses boss Phil Neville told BBC Sport: ‘This was the best they have played under me.
‘We keep saying we are having fun and they are playing like it. I knew we were going to win this game because of the look in their eyes and the 11 that didn’t play were driving it.”
‘The former England and Manchester United defender said he is “not bothered” who stands between them and the final.
‘You’ve got the best team in the world and you’ve got probably the second favourites in France, who have the support and backing of the home nation,” he said.
‘My players want the biggest games. I want the biggest games, and this will be the biggest game of the World Cup.
‘The atmosphere and occasion at the semi-final will be incredible. The players have proved the bigger the occasion, the better we are.’
Back to the transfer rumours…
A new name has emerged this morning with the Daily Mail suggesting yet another Manchester tussle for a talented youngster.
It’s been a common theme this summer that City and United are linked with the same player and it’s happened again this morning.
The report reads: “Manchester City and Manchester United are locked in a second transfer battle for Hoffenheim’s teenage midfielder Ilay Elmkies, according to The Sun.
“The Premier League rivals have been fighting it out for Leicester and England defender Harry Maguire this summer.
“And now the two clubs are battling for the signature of 19-year-old Elmkies, who has been compared to Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.
“The Israel Under-19 international impressed against Manchester City in the UEFA Youth League last season.
“Pep Guardiola wants the teenager at the Etihad Stadium to continue his development at the Etihad.”
Finally, a former team-mate of alleged City target Harry Maguire believes the Foxes star could have the ‘Van Dijk effect’ for the Blues…
Goal write: “An ex-Leicester team-mate of the England international defender believes the talented centre-half boasts the ability to shine at the Etihad Stadium
“Harry Maguire’s proposed move to Manchester City “could be like Virgil van Dijk’s to Liverpool”, claims former Leicester team-mate Vicente Iborra.
“A big-money switch to the Premier League champions continues to be mooted for the England international defender.
“City are in the market for a new centre-half after seeing Vincent Kompany depart.
With his leadership qualities gone, Pep Guardiola is eager to bring in another commanding presence at the heart of his back four.
“Maguire, at just 26 years of age, would be a long-term option to fill that void at the Etihad Stadium.
“Iborra believes the former Sheffield United and Hull City man could be the perfect choice, with it possible that he could make a similar impact with the Blues as £75 million ($95m) star Van Dijk has with Champions League winners Liverpool.
“A Spaniard who spent 18 months alongside Maguire at the King Power Stadium told Radio Marca of Maguire: ‘He is a great player. He’s very powerful, with good balance, great at bringing the ball out and he can score goals.
‘He had a great World Cup and is a super footballer. His transfer to Manchester City could be like Van Dijk’s to Liverpool.”
And that’s your lot for today…
