OFFICIAL: MAN CITY, NO CESC NO SANCHEZ etc!!!

by Khaled Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:47 am

City have been linked with at least 24 top players at more than one per day since the season ended, according to our records.

It’s not exactly surprising, but then again, Roberto Mancini is not about to change virtually his entire squad, so much of the speculation must be misplaced at best and mischievous at worst.

The Blues do not comment officially on transfer rumours, so sports editors know there won’t be any comeback if their satnavs are way off base – City sell papers, a fact that we all accept.

It is interesting how many times some players crop up compared to others - Alexis Sanchez of Udinese has been linked with a move to the City of Manchester Stadium in 11 main newspaper features so far.

The talented Chilean is considered City’s main target by a host of papers, but whether they are proved to be on the money or hopelessly wrong remains to be seen.

Next in the list is Gary Cahill, with eight stories suggesting he’s poised to make the short journey from Bolton, and he is followed by Lille’s highly-rated Gervinho with seven.

Coming from nowhere is Cristiano Ronaldo with six, most in the last few days, though the transfer fee and wages quoted range from the bizarre to the ridiculous for Real Madrid’s 51-goal striker.

Everton duo Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell, Tottenham’s Luka Modric and Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder have four apiece; Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, Gareth Bale and Samir Nasri all clock in with three.

Among the also-rans (players linked no more than twice) are Napoli’s Ezequiel Lavezzi, Arsenal’s Gael Clichy, Raphaël Varane of Lens, Anderlecht striker Romelu Lukaku, Valencia’s Juan Mata, Palermo’s Javier Pastore, Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain, Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen and Serge Aurier of Lens.

Oh, and Cesc Fabregas, of course ...

Here is the linked "squad":

Goalkeepers: None (but give it time ...)

Defence: Gary Cahill (Bolton), Leighton Baines (Everton), Serge Aurier (Lens), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Ajax), Raphael Varane (Lens), Gareth Bale (Tottenham).

Midfield: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Luka Modric (Tottenham), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Juan Mata (Valencia), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Samir Nasri (Arsenal).

Strikers: Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Anderlecht), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Gonzalo Higuain (Read Madrid), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Gervinho (Lille).

Source: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/June/Rumour-mill-keeps-ticking-over