Source: Man_City
City won't be held to ransom
| Submit Comments| Comments (29)| Printable Version1/1Play SlideshowClose MapCity are still intent on a fistful of big signings this summer, despite making a stand against ?rip-off? agents? fees. The Blues have already made it plain that they will not be held to ransom by greedy players? representatives after splashing out over £12m for last year?s big-money moves. And their refusal to be stung again has held up their dealings, after Roberto Mancini wanted to get two or three new players in the bag ahead of the World Cup. So far the Blues have signed Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for £11m, have made a £20m bid for Aston Villa?s James Milner and are at an advanced stage in their move for Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure. They have also expressed an interest in Valencia?s David Silva, and made tentative enquiries about Liverpool pair, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Silva has already expressed an interest in moving to the Premier League - but favours Chelsea. He said; ?The Premier League is the place to be. ?Chelsea have established themselves as one of the best clubs in Europe over the last five years. Target ?There is no doubt in my mind that Chelsea would be a great club to play for - and a club where I could fulfil my ambition of league titles and the European Cup.? City have been linked to more than 50 other players throughout the world, the vast majority without any substance at all ? the principle targets were identified by the Blues? player acquisition group early, and negotiators Garry Cook and Brian Marwood have stuck closely to the script. But chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has made it plain that he does not want City developing a reputation as a soft touch by agents eyeing up the vast resources at their disposal. By 2015, the Blues need to fit in with UEFA rules which will prevent them from spending more than the club earns for itself, and the owners are determined to introduce a more parsimonious approach to everything. They have recognised the need to spend big money in order to transform City from a top-six team into one which can qualify for, and compete in, the Champions League. But they have baulked at some of the fees demanded by agents for players. Last week Yaya Toure?s agent Dimitri Seluk moaned that the Blues were acting more like a ?bankrupt? club than the richest one in the world. Deal The detail of that move may be the only thing which prevents it going through, with Barcelona appearing to have agreed a £25m fee, and Toure apparently happy with a proposed four-year deal on £120,000 a week. But Seluk said: ?Everything has changed with City, because they talk a lot but then afterwards they don't appear to be a rich club, but rather a bankrupt one.? The Blues now hope that Toure will remind Seluk that he is the employee in their relationship, and that the final decision rests with the player and not his agent. City are also reported to have walked away from two deals when it became clear that the agents in question were demanding huge fees, payable by the club rather than their clients. Last summer was treated as an exception, as the Blues were desperate for reinforcements to boost them into top four contention. Manager Mancini has made it plain that he only needs two or three key additions to take the extra step next season, after last season?s narrow miss. And he aims to ensure that the club is not stung again, as it was last summer by paying £17m for Roque Santa Cruz ? who only lasted for 90 minutes twice in the entire league campaign, or £24m for Joleon Lescott, a price widely regarded as excessive. The fact that the Blues begin in a stronger position means the Blues can afford to be tougher when it comes to agents. Former City winger Martin Petrov is on the verge of signing for Bolton. The 31-year-old is thought to have undergone a medical with Wanderers prior to agreeing financial terms.| Submit Comments| Comments (29)| Printable VersionAdd A CommentEnter your comments:
