Source: Man_City
Olic and Di Maria on City shopping list
Ivica OlicCity are weighing up summer moves for Ivica Olic and Angel Di Maria as Roberto Mancini plots for next season. Mancini was at Old Trafford on Wednesday night as Bayern Munich?s Croatian striker Olic, 30, struck the first of two away goals that dumped United out of the Champions League. And the City boss then made a trip to Anfield on Thursday to see Benfica?s Argentinian winger Di Maria in action as they were knocked out of the Europa League by Liverpool. Mancini was careful to play down suggestions that he was specifically watching both players. The City boss insisted that he was merely keeping an eye on potential future European opponents, with his team chasing a place in next season?s Champions League. But Mancini has openly admitted that he is making plans to spend in the summer ? and hopes to have top-class European football to offer potential recruits. He said: ?I went to Old Trafford to watch United play Bayern, and then I went to Liverpool, because they were two big games. ?For me, it is important to watch the other teams, and the important players. ?But I went to watch Benfica play at Liverpool because maybe we will meet them next year. ?It?s difficult to say at the moment what we will do in the summer. ?I think now that we have a good team, but we probably must buy other players because we want to improve. ?If we don?t have to spend a lot of money, it will be better. But I don?t know at the moment.? Di Maria has also been linked with Chelsea, whose sporting director Frank Arnesen was in the Anfield crowd with Mancini on Thursday night, while United have been keeping tabs on him too. The Blues may well have to break the British transfer record to stand a chance of landing the winger, however, with the bidding set to start at £30m and likely to top the £32.5m the Blues paid for Robinho in September 2008. Olic, however, would be a much cheaper prospect because of his age, having turned 30 last September. The striker, who scored for Croatia at Wembley when they knocked England out of Euro 2008, joined Bayern last summer from Hamburg, where he was part of the side that ended City?s UEFA Cup run. He played alongside current City men Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong during his two seasons at the Nordbank Arena. But despite his goal at Old Trafford, Olic is expected to leave Bayern at the end of the season, having fallen out with their boss Louis van Gaal. Mancini is also keen to strengthen his defence, and will not give up hope of tempting right-back Maicon from his former club Inter Milan. The Brazilian, 28, has been linked with Real Madrid over the last few days, although it is understood he will delay a decision on his future until the end of the season, as Serie A leaders Inter are also chasing glory in the Champions League. Inter?s teenage striker Mario Balotelli remains on Mancini?s radar, with the City boss also pondering a move for young Bari centre-back Leonardo Bonucci. The 22-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal, has played himself into contention for a World Cup spot with Italy after a series of assured displays in defence for Bari this season. | Submit Comments| Comments (47)| PrintWhat's this? Emaildel.icio.usDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponNewsvineGoogle BookmarksNetscapeTechnoratiWindows LiveYahoo! MyWebMa.gnolia
