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Transfer News – Manchester City complete £14m Kolarov capture

July 25th, 2010

Transfer News – Manchester City complete £14m Kolarov capture

Manchester City have completed the £14m signing of Serbian left-back Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio.

The 24-year-old Kolarov has been a target for Mancini since the manager was in charge at Inter Milan, and the World Cup star will bring a goalscoring threat as well as defensive quality to the City squad.

Mancini, however, was quick to dispel any suggestions that Kolarov’s arrival indicates the immediate end of Wayne Bridge’s career at Eastlands.

“I want two top class players for each position,” Mancini said following his side’s 2-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in New York.

Bridge has been linked with a move to Liverpool, and despite Mancini’s remarks, the England defender will find first-time action to be at a premium with Kolarov, Joleon Lescott and Jerome Boateng all able to play at left-back.

Mancini would be reluctant to allow Bridge to join Liverpool, because City want to finish in the top four, they are in direct competition with his side.

City are a very convincing to finish in the top four of the Premier League, and a squad with such strength in depth will allow them to compete in every competition.

Indeed, with international players competing for every single starting place in the first team, City could be worth backing to win the Europa League.

And with Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli rumoured to be joining City in a £30m deal, summer spending at Eastlands is set to soar past the £100m mark.

Kolarov’s explosive left-footed strikes and penchant for seeing red have led to him being likened to former Lazio and Serbia defender Sinisa Mihajlovic, who played under Mancini at Inter.

How successful can Manchester City be this season ?

Tags: Aleksandar Kolarov, Balotelli, Boateng, Europa League, Inter Milan, Jerome Boateng, Joleon Lescott, Kolarov, lazio, lescott, Liverpool, Mario Balotelli, Mihajlovic, Premier League, Sinisa Mihajlovic, sporting lisbon

Title contenders – Man City’s big spend can end 42-year wait

July 23rd, 2010

Manchester City needed a last-minute goal from Paul Dickov to clamber out of the third-tier of English football just 11 years ago, but after spending many millions now stand on the precipice of winning the Premier League (5/1).

Goalkeeper
City are spoilt for choice here, with two of the league’s best keepers to pick from. 34-year-old Shay Given is described by manager Roberto Mancini as “one of the best five goalkeepers in the world”, while Joe Hart made the PFA team of the year for his displays between the sticks at Birmingham City.

Defence
The signing of Jerome Boateng will sure up an area City were weak in last term, having conceded 45 league goals. Able to play anywhere across the back, the 21-year-old has all the coolness you would expect from a German defender.

Serbia’s Aleksandar Kolarov is sure to follow from Lazio, displacing Wayne Bridge at left-back, and Mancini will hope a £17million price tag doesn’t look as exorbitant as the fees for Jolean Lescott and Kolo Toure after each had disappointing seasons.

Indeed, those two will need to improve if City are to finish in the top four (1/2), especially with Pablo Zabaleta not looking top quality on the right.

Midfield
Clever signing shave been made in this department. Securing defensive midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona was impressive, as was the swoop for Valencia winger David Silva – the pair are real top quality

A Toure and Nigel De Jong partnership would be near impenetrable, given the former’s slick passing and the latter’s dogged tackling. Gareth Barry could be pushed further forward, while Patrick Vieira would be a reliable replacement.

Despite not featuring much at the World Cup, Silva is a big player for a Spanish side who have conquered all in recent years. An ability to play on either wing will be important and problems for opposition defences should follow if he and Adam Johnson switch flanks during games.

Attack
Carlos Tevez had a remarkably productive year last season, scoring 29 goals in 40 games. He is 11/1 to win the Premier League Golden Boot.

Despite City’s attack grabbing a scorching 73 goals in the league, he and Emmanuel Adebayor don’t look quite right as a partnership, and Mancini would do well to get target Mario Balotelli in.

With a squad brimming with potential, Mancini really does have genuine title hopes. But whether he can blend all these elements into a cohesive team is a big question, suggesting they will fall short. See the full Premier League market betting.