Oliver Kay
Far from resting on their laurels after a strong start to the season, Manchester City are preparing to make more waves in the transfer market by signing a top-class centre forward in January, with Afonso Alves, the prolific Brazilian striker, joining Nicolas Anelka on Sven-Göran Eriksson’s wish list.
Reports in the Netherlands yesterday suggested that City had already agreed to pay Heerenveen £13.85 million for Alves, 26, who has scored 44 goals in 35 league appearances for the Dutch club. Those reports were premature, with Eriksson’s scouts due to continue monitoring Alves over the next two months before deciding whether to proceed with a bid, but they do give an accurate reflection of the funds that Thaksin Shinawatra, City’s owner, is prepared to invest to land reinforcements, with Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Chelsea and former City winger, another ambitious target, along with Erik Huseklepp, 23, the Brann Bergen midfield player.
City’s attacking options also include Anelka, the former City forward, now at Bolton Wanderers, and at least five other strikers whom Eriksson’s scouts are tracking. The urgency has been increased by an injury to Valeri Bojinov and the failure of Rolando Bianchi to settle in Manchester since his £8.8 million summer move from Reggina. Bianchi is expected to return to Serie A in January.
Micah Richards, the England defender, was relieved to learn yesterday that he had avoided a serious knee injury during City’s 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup fourth round the previous evening. A scan revealed that he had suffered bruising to medial ligaments. The 19-year-old is expected to miss City’s home match against Sunderland on Monday, but hopes to return for the visit to Portsmouth a week tomorrow and the subsequent England matches.
Far from resting on their laurels after a strong start to the season, Manchester City are preparing to make more waves in the transfer market by signing a top-class centre forward in January, with Afonso Alves, the prolific Brazilian striker, joining Nicolas Anelka on Sven-Göran Eriksson’s wish list.
Reports in the Netherlands yesterday suggested that City had already agreed to pay Heerenveen £13.85 million for Alves, 26, who has scored 44 goals in 35 league appearances for the Dutch club. Those reports were premature, with Eriksson’s scouts due to continue monitoring Alves over the next two months before deciding whether to proceed with a bid, but they do give an accurate reflection of the funds that Thaksin Shinawatra, City’s owner, is prepared to invest to land reinforcements, with Shaun Wright-Phillips, the Chelsea and former City winger, another ambitious target, along with Erik Huseklepp, 23, the Brann Bergen midfield player.
City’s attacking options also include Anelka, the former City forward, now at Bolton Wanderers, and at least five other strikers whom Eriksson’s scouts are tracking. The urgency has been increased by an injury to Valeri Bojinov and the failure of Rolando Bianchi to settle in Manchester since his £8.8 million summer move from Reggina. Bianchi is expected to return to Serie A in January.
Micah Richards, the England defender, was relieved to learn yesterday that he had avoided a serious knee injury during City’s 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup fourth round the previous evening. A scan revealed that he had suffered bruising to medial ligaments. The 19-year-old is expected to miss City’s home match against Sunderland on Monday, but hopes to return for the visit to Portsmouth a week tomorrow and the subsequent England matches.
Only better.
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