The first full week of the transfer window has been a busy one for Manchester City, with players rumoured to be leaving and joining the Blues.
Slam dunks
Both clubs have confirmed that there are talks over Swansea City’s Wilfried Bony, but with City’s financial fair play restrictions the price tag is a potential stumbling block.
Bony is said to have had a £23million buy-out clause before he resigned in November, and is now supposed to be commanding a fee of nearer £30million, but Bony’s departure to Guinea for the African Cup of Nations may also delay proceedings.
James Milner looks certain to be leaving the club at the end of the year as he continues to fail to agree a new contract with City, but for which club?
Last year’s title challengers Liverpool currently head the pack as they look to replace Steven Gerrard, although some reports have also linked the ex-Aston Villa midfielder with Arsenal, Inter Milan, and Roma.
Call me maybes
Scott Sinclair seems to be ending his time at City, mostly spent training and very rarely playing, by sealing a £2.5million move to Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa.
However, the Midlands club are unwilling to match his reported £40,000-a-week wages, so the 25-year-old may have to take a pay cut in search of first team football.
Matija Nastasic has only appeared once for City this season, in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, and now appears to be lower on the pecking order than Dedryck Boyata.
Roberto Di Matteo’s Schalke 04 are rumoured to have offered £10million for him, a sum which will certainly tempt Manuel Pellegrini given the club’s net spending limits.
Long shots
Another man who may suffer the sword in an effort to keep City within their £49million net transfer spend cap is Stevan Jovetic.
The Montenegrin has scored five goals in eight league starts this season but has been linked with a £10million move back to Italy.
In a Blue Moon
After David Moyes’ Real Sociedad beat Barcelona with Lionel Messi sat on the bench for the first half, the Argentinian forward has been linked with a move the Premier League.
Manchester City, with its large Argentinian contingent, has been mooted as a potential destination. Yeah. Right. Even without FFP, this one will require several miracles.
Main image courtesy of Swansea City AFC via YouTube, with thanks.
