THE BOLLOX
Bacary Sagna gives hungry Manchester City extra strength in depth
After winning the FA Cup with Arsenal Bacary Sagna has opted to head to Manchester City (Picture: AP Photo)
Manchester City last week confirmed their first signing of the summer, with the not so secret courtship of Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna coming to fruition with the full-back inking a three-year deal at The Etihad.
The move for Sagna was an obvious one for City on a number of levels: there was no fee involved in bringing him to the club (although this fact may have resulted in higher wage and/or signing fee), his style of play should align well with that deployed by Manuel Pellegrini and his arrival should help extend the career of Pablo Zabaleta.
Zabaleta, lest we forget, has been excellent over the past three seasons since making the right-back spot his own.
Due to his own continued form and inverse performance of Micah Richards he has played a high number of minutes in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. Being on the wrong side of 30, Zabaleta is heading towards the latter stages of his career.
Sagna’s arrival should benefit him therefore as there will likely be a situation akin to the left hand side of City’s defence where Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov operate a form of job-share, where the 50-55 games a season are split on a 30-35 and 20-25 game basis.
Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta is also the wrong side of 30 (Picture: AP Photo)
This though will take some adjusting to for both parties. Both are used to being largely the undisputed first choice at the club, both featured in 35 Premier League games last season (starting in 34) so are not used to time spent on the bench.
This is why although the move for City to bring Sagna in, strengthening the depth in which there was little or none last season with the decline in Richards’ fortunes Sagna’s decision – from a pure footballing sense – could be viewed as a curious one.
Not only will Sagna see a reduction in playing time but he will also have to convince Pellegrini of his worth as a viable alternative or replacement for Zabaleta given the latters dominance and hold on the position.
Like Zabaleta though, Sagna is the wrong side of 30 so whilst offers would have been forthcoming you suspect there were not many three-year deals (which City offered) on the table – which feels at this stage to be a year too long for a player of such an age, and certainly not at the financial level of City’s deal. Although offered a new deal by Arsenal, he rejected the offer to continue his career with the Gunners.
Sagna does join the increasingly well-trodden path up the M6 to Manchester, following in the footsteps of Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure in recent years and despite signing off his Arsenal career by lifting the FA Cup the prospects of further trophies look favourable at The Etihad than the Emirates.
Sagna arrival to kick Reds into action - Liverpool ready to launch move for Man City outcast
Liverpool are ready to move for Manchester City’s Micah Richards following the arrival of Bacary Sagna, according to reports from the Daily Star.
The France international’s long-awaited Bosman switch to the Etihad Stadium was confirmed last week, with the Sky Blues having bowed to his wage demands as they look to bolster their squad for next season.
With his arrival, Richards looks to be surplus to requirements and could well be allowed to leave for around £7m with his contract set to expire in 12 months’ time.
Although a direct rival Liverpool could get Richards, with the player himself thought to be open to the switch and the club aware that losing him for free would be a blow.
The 25-year-old has endured an injury-plagued few years, but was once heralded as one of English football’s most promising defenders.
Brendan Rodgers is said to be a fan of his abilities, with his ability to play at either right-back or the centre of defence appealing.
West Ham and Hull are also keen, but neither club have quite the same pulling power as the Merseysiders.
Andrea Pirlo nearly gave Italy a third goal in their victory over England on Saturday night with his stunning free-kick.
The Juventus veteran cut across the ball to curl it the wrong way. Goalkeeper Joe Hart was helpless as the ball flew past him and bounced off the bar.
After the game, the Manchester City man congratulated Pirlo on the “wow free-kick”.
https://vine.co/v/MIqpJMPjJz7
City convinced by new Dutch star
Manchester City City have told Dutch starlet Karim Rekik they aren't planning to loan him out again and want him in the first-team squad next season. The 19-year-old defender spent last season on loan with PSV Eindhoven and his form was impressive enough to receive a call-up for the Netherlands. Rekik has come through City's academy and was willing to stay in Holland for another season, but has now been told to report for pre-season training at the Etihad Stadium. The teenager also qualifies as both 'homegrown' and 'club trained'. The Premier League champions believe Rekik is now ready to make the final step up and also help meet their squad quota requirements. The news will be a blow to West Bromwich Albion and Southampton as both clubs were showing interest in a season-long loan deal for the City centre-back.
Hart deal on the cards - England star set for new Man City contract
Joe Hart is set to be offered a new contract by Manchester City when he returns from the World Cup, according to reports from Goal.
The England international – who is currently in Brazil with the Three Lions – is widely thought of as the best goalkeeper to have been produced by the nation in some years, but his future at the Etihad Stadium has been in some doubt for a while.
After a succession of shaky performances at the start of last season Hart was dropped by Manuel Pellegrini, prompting rumours that the Sky Blues chief is looking to draft in a fresh stopper to be his number one.
However, the 27-year-old eventually forced his way back into the club’s starting XI, and is now set for a new five-year contract.
Hart has just two years remaining on his £70,000-per-week deal, and City are keen to tie him down before the prospect of losing him on a free transfer becomes a worry.
The Premier League champions are also aware that the glovesman is now entering his peak years, which could see his abilities improve further.
Manchester City To Swoop For Free Agent Goalkeeper As Back Up To Joe Hart
Premier League champions to move for former Sunderland stopper.
Manchester City are set to make a move for goalkeeper Kieran Westwood this week, who is now a free agent after being released by Sunderland earlier this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
The move will come as a surprise to the club’s fans, but Manuel Pellegrini is thought to be keen to step up his search for a back up to Hart after releasing Costel Pantilimon at the end of the previous campaign, and he has reportedly targeted Westwood as a cut priced option.
Republic of Ireland international Westwood is looking for a new club after being released himself, having been unable to win his place back from former Arsenal star Vito Mannone at the Stadium of Light last season.
The 29-year-old Westwood has plenty of experience and may be ideal for the role and the fact there is no fee also helps City at this stage.
Westwood is also a Manchester native, and was on City’s books as a youngster, and should the move go ahead it would complete a dramatic and emotional return for him.
Joe Hart has since re-established himself as the club’s first choice ‘keeper, but Pantilimon’s insistence on playing elsewhere has caused Pellegrini a problem that he hopes to remedy as soon as possible.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has warned Roy Hodgson that Wayne Rooney, 28, is less effective when he plays out wide. Daily Mirror
Rooney has conceded that he is facing a battle to keep his place in England's starting line-up for Thursday's vital World Cup clash with Uruguay. The Times
Hodgson claims Liverpool and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, 27, still has much to do to be considered a world great. Daily Telegraph
England could be sanctioned by Fifa after it emerged its 2018 bid team had been quizzed about paying for a £35,000 dinner organised by disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner. Daily Telegraph
Spain Coach Vicente del Bosque is ready to make big changes to his line-up for Spain's next game against Chile. The Sun
Arsene Wenger will give striker Joel Campbell, 21, the opportunity to establish himself at Arsenal after he impressed in Costa Rica's shock win over Uruguay at the World Cup. The 21-year-old has had loan spells at Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiakos. Independent
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 36, says his Ivory Coast team-mate Serge Aurier, 21, who set up his country's two goals in the win over Japan, has the capacity to step up seamlessly to the Premier League if he leaves Toulouse. Guardian
Prospective Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has lined up Celtic's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, 22, for £8m as his first signing. Daily Mirror
Arsenal could be set to miss out on striker Alvaro Morata after Wolfsburg submitted a £15.9m offer for the Real Madrid 21-year-old. Independent
Athletic Bilbao are interested in a cut-price move for Spanish defender Nacho Monreal, 28, who joined Arsenal for £8m in 2013. Daily Express
Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Aston Villa are showing interest in Marseille midfielder Morgan Amalfitano, 29, who impressed on loan at West Brom last season. DSSC
Sunderland are close to signing Romania goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, 27, who was recently told that his contract would not be renewed at Manchester City. The Times
Croatia players are refusing to talk to World Cup reporters after photos were published of them bathing nude in the team's swimming pool. Guardian
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