Since when Reus is a defender? You're not Arsenal, you don't buy one more attacking midfielder when you need a defender.

Arsenal and Manchester City are battling for the signature of Croatian teenager Marc Brasnic, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker, 18, is hot property, with clubs in Italy and Spain also keen, as well as the Gunners and champions City.

His deal ends next summer – and he could go for £1.5million in January rather than leave on a free at the end of the season.

Where would Navas/Milner play? 

Bale is the subject of intense transfer speculation after Isco impressed in the Welshman's absence through injury earlier this season.

According to the Manchester Evening News, City are set to splash the cash next summer to combat their ageing squad.

The former Tottenham star is likely to be on their wanted list due to his status as one of the world's most deadly attacking players.

City's bitter rivals Manchester United are keen on Bale but Real are likely to demand goalkeeper David De Gea in part exchange.

Chelsea are also watching Bale's situation at the Spanish club and will also move if he is up for grabs.


However, City's financial power is likely to mean they could meet Real's £90m valuation.

hello, anybody home..??

*knock knock..

well...

City serious on Stephen Lichtsteiner this January?

this fella is one of my current favourite flying fullback.

Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner is this morning being linked with a move to City.

The question is, do the champions really need another right-back with Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna already in situ?

Nonetheless, the Manchester Evening News report: “City are tracking ‘Swiss Express’ Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner.

“The fullback, who is also nicknamed Forrest Gump because of his relentless raiding runs, is out of contract next summer.

“Although he primarily plays at right full back he can play on the left or even in midfield if required.

“Given City’s spending restrictions because of the Financial Fair Play punishment hanging over them, 30-year-old Lichtsteiner could make an attractive short term prospect.

“Club scouts will run the rule over his progress in Serie A to see if he fits the strict criteria required these days to become a Blues first team player.”


The Daily Star suggest City are looking at a target a bit closer to home with Newcastle’s teenage prospect Rolando Aarons allegedly on the radar.

Though the report says Arsenal are perhaps leading the race the Magpies star, they add: “Manchester City and Liverpool have also registered their interest. And Aarons' suitors believe they have been given hope of prising him away from St James' Park.

“The England under-20 wide man has just 18 months left on his current deal.”

Finally, Fernando has told Brazilian journalists that he expects Chelsea’s near-perfect start to the season to hit the rails before long.


The City anchorman’s comments, picked up by Sports Mole, said: ‘We know that the English league is very competitive, with big teams," the Brazilian told members of the media.

‘Of course Chelsea is the team that is best placed and playing better, but we know that all teams within the league fluctuate greatly.

‘We did not start well, we had some difficulties, but we know that at any time Chelsea will also go through these difficulties and then we have to work to stay as close as possible.’"

The Insider: Manchester City roll out red carpet for Messi

The Premier League champions were on a charm offensive last week when the Barcelona star visited their facilities ahead of Argentina's friendly with Portugal at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER CITY ROLL OUT THE RE...BLUE CARPET FOR MESSI

In the week which saw Lionel Messi drop the biggest hint yet that his future may lie away from Barcelona, Manchester City took the opportunity to roll out the red carpet for the Argentina superstar.

Messi was in town for Argentina’s prestige friendly against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal at Old Trafford in midweek which took place after he had sparked a media frenzy by declaring his relationship with Barcelona as “complicated” adding that “I always said that I'd like to stay there forever, but things don't always work out as you want them to”.

Goal understands City have been monitoring Messi’s increasingly fractious rapport with the Catalan giants’ board for the last 18 months with a view to pulling off the most spectacular transfer coup of all time by tempting Messi to the Etihad Stadium.

The Premier League champions took the opportunity to step up their PR charm offensive this week as Messi trained at the club’s Carrington training complex alongside City’s fellow Argentina internationals Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis and Pablo Zabaleta.

Messi also visited the soon-to-be-opened Etihad Campus, the £200 million facility complete with 16 pitches and a 7,000 capacity reserve stadium, and was understood to be suitably impressed.

Pointedly, City used footage of Messi embracing Txiki Begiristain, the former Barcelona director of football now employed in the same role at Manchester City, on his arrival as part of an opening montage on the Inside City feature on the club’s online TV channel.

City were fined £50 million by Uefa earlier this year for failing to meet the criteria of Financial Fair play but the club’s money men are confident they still possess the resources required to fund any potential deal.

City believe Messi could be worth as much as £400m in commercial revenue to any club - meaning Uefa's Financial Fair Play rules could easily be met.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are already looking at ways of reducing their current wage bill in order to accommodate Messi’s world record £300,000-a-week salary and would be prepared to let their current top earner Yaya Toure leave in the summer should Messi decide this season will be his last in Barcelona colours.

Toure, who currently earns £230,000-a-week, has been linked with a move away from the club since the summer and earlier this week refused to close the door on a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Clubs around Europe pricked up their ears when Messi gave his revealing interview to Ole this week, and City look set to be at the front of the queue should the bidding process for one of football's biggest icons ever open.


- By Paul Clennam

heard they plan to take villa in? betul ka?

Pelli should focus on getting another defender in January instead of another attacker. Kompany out for long?

Meanwhile, Mark Ogden of the Telegraph states there are no plans to sign David Villa ahead of his move to New York City FC, insisting: "The former Valencia and Barcelona striker has since made four appearances on loan at Melbourne City - Abu Dhabi's A-League outfit - in order to maintain his fitness ahead of the MLS season, which kicks off in March.

"But although City have benefited hugely from Frank Lampard's presence at the club following his temporary move from New York, which may yet be extended until the end of the season, there are no plans to sign Villa on a similar basis."

"Five strikers City could target in January" which includes Wilfried Bony, Saido Berahino, Mauro Icardi, Alexandre Lacazette and Edinson Cavani.