Whilst much mirth has arisen from Howard Webb's retirement, we City fans in particular should remember, that our team benefited the most from the last 5 years in matches when he officiated our games!
If reports in the media are to be believed this morning, two integral members of City’s league-winning squad are set to sign new long-term deals at the club in the coming days.
Firstly, the Mirror claim that captain Vincent Kompany is set for a huge deal to essentially keep him at the Etihad until the end of his career:
“The central defender will reportedly be handed a £200,000-a-week, six-year deal in order to keep him out of the clutches of suitors including Barcelona
“If he accepts, the 28-year-old could be set to end his career at the Etihad.”
Similarly, Jeremy Cross in the Daily Star reckons Edin Dzeko is also in-line to commit his future to the champions:
“The Bosnia striker is heading into the final 12 months of his current £150,000-a-week deal but is set to pledge his long-term future to the champions.
“The news coincides with speculation that the big-spenders are set to make a shock loan move for unsettled Monaco hitman Radamel Falcao.
“The Colombian star has just returned to action after missing the last nine months with a serious knee problem.
“He is keen to find a new club, but City have rubbished reports suggesting he is not a target and insist he will not be arriving at the Etihad Stadium.
“The news is more positive for Dzeko, however, who has been negotiating a new deal for the last few weeks.
“It is understood he is willing to put pen-to-paper on a three-year extension for the same wages he is on now.
“It represents a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Dzeko, who was close to leaving just over 12 months ago.
“He started just 16 league games in the 2012-13 season and became frustrated under former boss Roberto Mancini.
“Inter Milan made him a target and he seemed destined for the exit until Mancini was sacked and replaced by Manuel Pellegrini.
“Dzeko, 28, found a new lease of life under the Chilean last season, starting 23 league games and scoring 26 goals in all competitions.
“He scored some crucial goals in the absence of injured duo Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo to become an integral part of Pellegrini's team.
“Dzeko helped fire City to the title in Pellegrini's first season in charge and has told friends he feels wanted again.
“In a recent interview Dzeko said: "The main thing is that I'm happy at City.
“"It's very important you feel the confidence that a manager has in you and last season was proof of everything I said."”
City fans have been anxiously awaiting news of Eliaquim Mangala’s projected move to the Blues which has been ‘imminent’ for at least a fortnight now – however the Mirror’s David Maddock believes the saga could finally be concluded within the next 48 hours.
“Eliaquim Mangala is due to fly into Manchester within the next 48 hours as his move to the Etihad finally nears completion.
“Champions Manchester City are confident of concluding a £32million deal for the France defender by the weekend after months of negotiating with his Portuguese club Porto.
“City will pay just under £30m for the highly regarded defender, with extras taking the total fee to in excess of £32m - further bonuses will follow if the club achieves the success they hope for.
“Mangala is seen as the last piece in the Blues’ new-look squad, with no further signings planned now boss Manuel Pellegrini has been granted his wish of two internationals for every position.”
And finally, back with the Daily Star who claim that a report in the Italian press reckons Arsenal and Juventus are edging closer to the signature of Matija Nastasic.
“According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, a deal for the Serbia international has moved a step closer after City put the player up for sale.
“The reports also claim Italian champions Juventus are keen on bringing Nastasic to Turin.
“The Serbian joined City from Fiorentina in 2012 and managed to force his way into the side in his debut season.
“However, he struggled for game time in 2013-14 campaign, as Manuel Pellegrini opted to pair Martin Demichelis alongside captain Vincent Kompany in central defence.
“He is likely to find first-team action hard to come by once again in the upcoming campaign, with City poised to sign Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala for £32m.”[/b]
Eliaquim Mangala's Manchester City transfer set to go through in the next 48 hours
Porto and France defender's move has been delayed by disagreements over payment terms but he finally looks set to complete his switch to the Etihad
Eliaquim Mangala is due to fly into Manchester within the next 48 hours as his move to the Etihad finally nears completion.
Champions Manchester City are confident of concluding a £32million deal for the France defender by the weekend after months of negotiating with his Portuguese club Porto.
The transfer has been delayed by a disagreement over payment terms – and was not helped by City’s gaffe when footage of the player discussing his move following a medical was leaked on the club’s website.
The video footage was made when the 23-year-old travelled to the club’s Carrington training ground for a tour of facilities in mid-July.
It was filmed for use when the deal was completed, but was hacked and prematurely released.
Since then, negotiations have been terse, but the news in Porto on Wednesday night is the club has finally sanctioned the deal, and that will allow the player to join his new teammates after the Community Shield game against Arsenal at Wembley on Sunday.
City will pay just under £30m for the highly regarded defender, with extras taking the total fee to in excess of £32m - further bonuses will follow if the club achieves the success they hope for.
Mangala is seen as the last piece in the Blues’ new-look squad, with no further signings planned now boss Manuel Pellegrini has been granted his wish of two internationals for every position.
Arsenal on standby as Manchester City put Matija Nastasic up for sale
ARSENAL it seems haven't finished their business in the transfer window and they have now turned their attentions to Manchester City centre half Matija Nastasic.
Though new boy Calum Chambers is a contender to start the season at centre back, there is a pressing need for Arsene Wenger to make defensive reinforcements.
Moreover, with Thomas Vermaelen expected to join either Manchester United or Barcelona, Wenger is keen to plug the gap left behind.
Reports in Italy suggest the Premier League champions are keen to sell Nastasic to the highest bidder as he is now surplus to requirements at the Etihad.
City it is thought would even consider letting him go on loan with a view to a permanent deal.
Arsenal it is believed have been tracking Nastasic since he was 16 years old.
However, they face stiff competition for his signature from Juventus, Galatasaray and Inter Milan.
Arsenal and City have struck deals in the past with Bacary Sagna moving to the Etihad on a free transfer last month.
Kompany set for £65m City mega-deal
Vincent Kompany will reportedly be offered a new six-year deal worth a staggering £65 million to stay at Manchester City.
Kompany is set to boost his wages with the Premier League champions to £200,000 a week, according to the Sun.
The deal would earn centre-back Kompany nearly £60m, with bonuses adding to that figure.
City are said to be keen to reassure captain Kompany over his status as the club's key defender with the arrival of £32m defender Eliaquim Mangala from Porto imminent and likely to be among the big earners at the club.
Kompany, who signed a six-year deal in 2012, has captained City to two Premier League titles in three years but Manuel Pellegrini has increased the competition for places in his defence for the new season.
In addition to the looming arrival of Mangala, Bacary Sagna, who occasionally played in a central position for Arsenal, has signed and faces a battle with Pablo Zabaleta for the right-back role.
"I needed a change, I spent seven years at Arsenal and I had great times there but I wanted to start from the bottom again and work hard again," Sagna said after his deal at the Emirates expired.
"When you come into a team like this it's not hard to motivate yourself, I watched them celebrate last season and three years ago and I wanted to celebrate too.
"I will have to work hard just to get in this team, because we have great players challenging for every single position.
"It is vital for a team to succeed to have a really strong squad now, so the players can be rotated. We will play every three days and the body needs to recover, so we will need to have that strength. We have a very powerful squad.
"Zabaleta was one of the ones who had the most chat with me. He is one of the best. He can defend well and he's very decisive going forward.
"I am not here to fight with him, I am here to give the maximum to fight for the team. Of course, one of us will play a bit more than the other, but it shows the strength of this side, and for me it's not a problem."
Inter Milan are willing to let Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin, 28, leave the club and join Manchester United. Daily Star
And United have also been given hope in their bid to sign £30m-rated Roma defender Mehdi Benatia, 27, but they face competition from Chelsea and Real Madrid. Daily Express
But United are ready to move for Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, 28, and they are prepared to pay £15m to beat off competition from Barcelona. DSSC
Arsenal could step up their pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Douglas Costa, 23, after failing to land Porto's Juan Quintero, 21. Daily Express
West Ham want Stoke's former England striker Peter Crouch, 33 - but have baulked at the London club's £3m asking price. Telegraph
A tearful Daniel Agger has begged Brendan Rodgers to let him leave Liverpool, with Barcelona the 29-year-old central defender's likely destination. Daily Mirror
Real Madrid want to sign Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Cech, 32, and Thibaut Courtois, 22. Sun
Napoli boss Rafael Benitez will go back to former club Liverpool and try to sign midfielder Lucas Leiva, 27. Sun
Swansea are preparing to move for 25-year-old Napoli centre-back Federico Fernandez. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are ready to offer £9m and Nacer Chadli, 25, to land PSV's Dutch winger Memphis Depay, 20. DSSC
Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, is pondering a return to France this summer. Daily Star
West Brom manager Alan Irvine says he wants two or three more signings, despite the Baggies already having brought in eight players this summer. Birmingham Mail
Luis Suarez's lawyer is convinced that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will reduce the 27-year-old's four-month ban for biting. Daily Mirror
Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton, 29, says he gets on well with manager Paul Lambert - despite not playing for Villa's first team for two years. Sun
Right-back Bacary Sagna, 31, says he was convinced to join Manchester City by former Arsenal team-mates Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri. DSSC
Former Portsmouth and QPR defender Sam Magri, 20, looks set to find out on Thursday if he will be offered a contract by Crystal Palace after spending the last three weeks with the club on trial. Croydon Advertiser
Borussia Dortmund have criticised Bayern Munich over their public pursuit of 25-year-old forward Marco Reus. DSSC
Mark Halsey says football fans will miss Howard Webb following the referee's retirement. Sun
DJ Steve Aoki shared a picture of him and Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil throwing cake at revellers in Las Vegas.
The announcement that EA Sport's popular Fifa 15 console game would for the first time feature the stadiums of the 20 clubs currently in the English top flight was met with a flurry of tweets from the clubs in question, with Stoke City among those keen to share images of how their ground looks.
Howard Webb's retirement after 25 years as a referee has prompted a spate of cheeky football fans to poke fun at his perceived bias towards Manchester United.
Manchester United youngster RoShaun Williams, 15, has broken Darren Campbell's 25-year-old 100m school record. The FA
PSG striker Ezequiel Lavezzi has sparked a Twitter storm after being pictured with his partner wearing just a policeman's hat. DSSC
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