With football’s worst kept secret now signed and sealed, new Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini will set about spending his sizeable war chest amid a hive of transfer speculation.
The player who has emerged as most likely to be the former Malaga coach’s first official acquisition is a forward who Pellegrini knows more about than most.
Spanish starlet Isco shot to football prominence over the last week at the under-21 European Championship in Israel, where he helped his home nation lift the title in quite absorbing fashion.
The 21-year-old scored three goals including a penalty that eventually saw off Italy in the final in Jerusalem on Tuesday night.
With Malaga in financial dire straits a deal for Isco is plausible but City face stiff competition from Real Madrid who are not exactly famed for their subtlety when it comes to courting potential new signings.
However, money talks in modern football, and should the riches of Sheikh Mansour lure Isco to Manchester, City will have landed themselves a prize asset who could become a figurehead of the team for years to come.
The Spaniard would complete a trio of impressive summer signings along with Fernandinho and Jesus Navas, suggesting other big names will have to leave the club.
One such player could be Carlos Tevez who could have few complaints if he starts next season playing elsewhere.
The Argentinean went some way to repairing the damage done by his self-imposed hiatus two seasons ago by setting up Samir Nasri for a last minute winner against Chelsea on his return.
But with an influx of new stars set to arrive after the appointment of Pellegrini, Tevez’s questionable loyalty makes him an easy fit for the exit door.
One striker who may be able to dodge the swinging axe is Edin Dzeko, who Pellegrini has indicated may get a second chance under his reign.
Should that be the case, it will be reward for the Bosnian who, despite enduring limited first team opportunities since his arrival, has always maintained a positive attitude and delivered the goods when called upon.
With competition for places in the City strike force fiercer than ever, young Isco will receive no assurances of a regular first team birth should he join the Sky Blue ranks.
That is, of course, unless his performances dictate otherwise.
Image courtesy of rfef dot es, via YouTube, with thanks.
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