Another huge day for City in the transfer market sees a deal for James Milner finally agreed with Stephen Ireland heading to Villa in part exchange. The exact breakdown of the deal isn’t clear with figures of between £16.5m and £18m said to be going to Villa plus extras. Ireland may be getting £1m for his pay-off.
Cardiff are to be congratulated on beating a host of clubs to the loan signing of Craig Bellamy.
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With the international friendlies over, it’s back to transfer dealings in what looks like being a busy 48 hours before the season opener against Tottenham.
According to the Birmingham Mail, James Milner was all set to drive up to Manchester last night, until Villa told him otherwise. A hitch regarding Stephen Ireland’s move to Villa was cited as the reason.
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Tuttosport came up with some extraordinary quotes yesterday from Emmanuel Adebayor, claiming he is “sorry to leave the Premier League” with Juventus interested in him and the prospect of limited first team opportunities with City. Not surprisingly the club quickly refuted this, pointing out that he has just been given our number nine shirt.
But what if City sign Dzeko or Ibrahimovic? Adebayor’s place as a first-choice striker would then be under threat.
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With Mario Balotelli set to join the club and Roque Santa Cruz looking like the striker to make way out of last season’s first team squad it might be reasonable to assume they’re a straight swap. Yet is that the case?
Despite his powerful physique, Balotelli doesn’t play the role of target man which Santa Cruz was supposed to fill. Instead the positions he occupies are closer to those of Craig Bellamy. Namely he’s primarily a striker but often played on the flanks where his pace, skill and powerful shooting allow him to cut in and augment the strikers.
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