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    Chelsea and Man City ‘consider £60m transfer bid for in-demand Italy star to bolster defensive ranks’

    CHELSEA and Manchester City are considering a move for Inter Milan star Alessandro Bastoni, according to reports.The centre-back is one of the most in demand players in the world having previously turned down opportunities to move.
    Chelsea and Manchester City are interested in signing Alessandro BastoniCredit: Getty
    He rejected Tottenham when former manager Antonio Conte made an approach over a year ago.
    Now Chelsea and City have turned their eye to Bastoni too, report Calciomercato.
    But Inter will hold out for a hefty transfer fee with the Italy defender priced at £60million.
    The Serie A giants are not under pressure to sell as Bastoni penned a five-year deal in the summer.
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    Manchester United have been linked to Bastoni in the past.
    While Pep Guardiola could decide to focus transfer funds elsewhere after signing Josko Gvardiol in the summer.

    Chelse have spent over £1billion since Todd Boehly took over.
    But the Blues are still exploring ways to improve their squad after a shaky start to the season.
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    Brentford star Ivan Toney is believed to be of interest, with Arsenal also keeping tabs on the striker.
    Toney could be available for as little as £65m too as he has not played for several months due to his ban for betting breaches. More

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    Kalvin Phillips ready to forfeit £17.5MILLION pay-off to seal Man City transfer exit in January

    KALVIN PHILLIPS will give up a multi-million pound pay-off if he cuts his ties with Manchester City in January.Phillips, 27, has finally accepted that his only chance of regular football will be a move away from the Etihad, with his place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro plans also at risk.
    Kalvin Philips has one eye on Euro 2024 as he appears to be deciding he’ll need to leave Man City to earn more regular game time in the PremCredit: Getty
    Several clubs were interested in the summer, but the midfielder insisted he wanted to stay and fight for his place at City.
    Yet he is no nearer forcing his way in, and knows playing cameo roles for the rest of the season is likely to affect his England hopes.
    Newcastle, West Ham and Bayern Munich are all keen.
    And if City recoup close to the £42million he cost from Leeds two seasons ago, a deal could be done.
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    They would also listen to loan offers – if the successful club covers his wages and gives a commitment to buy next summer.
    Phillips still has four-and-a-half years left on his £150,000-a-week contract, and City were resigned to paying a huge chunk of that to smooth an exit path.
    Yet City insiders claim the player is ready to accept around half that figure to get his career moving in the right direction again.
    Etihad chief Pep Guardiola has accepted failing to get the best out of Philips since his arrival in 2022.
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    And the player himself told Channel 4 during the international break: “I want minutes and I want to go to Euro 2024 and we’ll see what happens.
    “As a football player, you always want to be playing, and that’s the case with me.
    “I want to be playing as much as possible and obviously I haven’t done that over the last year and a half, so that’s one thing I want to do.” More

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    Man City fans taunt Man Utd supporters with cheeky Glazers chant after Sir Jim Ratcliffe takeover update

    MANCHESTER CITY fans taunted rival United supporters with a cheeky chant about the Glazers. The American Old Trafford owners have been under pressure by the United faithful to leave the club after 13 unpopular years.
    Man City fans taunted rival United supporters with a cheeky chant about the GlazersCredit: Getty
    And they looked set to finally do so having put the footballing giants up for sale.
    United fans looked on course to celebrate new owners after Sheikh Jassim closed in on a multibillion deal.
    But that was until he withdrew his £5BILLION offer – leaving Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the clear to take over.
    Britain’s richest man has since agreed a £1.35billion deal for a 25 per cent takeover of the Red Devils.
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    It will mean the Glazers will still remain at the club – something City fans are clearly happy with.
    They chanted during their home match with Brighton: “Glazers staying 10 more years.”
    Despite a slight delay to that being confirmed, the Ineos chief wants to be granted control of football operations at United. 
    And he is hoping to be in charge for the January transfer window.
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    Ratcliffe is believed to be an admirer of under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag.
    But the futures of Richard Arnold and John Murtough under Ratcliffe remain unclear.
    A number of the six strong Glazer family members on the United board were happy to sell to Sheikh Jassim entirely.
    But Joel Glazer, in control of the process, was in favour of keeping majority shares in the club, unless Jassim upped his bid again.
    Sir Jim Ratcliffe is closing in on a Man Utd takeoverCredit: AFP

    Avram and Joel GlazerCredit: AFP More

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    Pep Guardiola ‘names next Man City manager during secret chat to players in tunnel’ in bitter snub to club legend

    PEP GUARDIOLA has reportedly told three Brighton players that Roberto De Zerbi will be the next Manchester City manager.The Spaniard is expected to leave the Etihad when his contract expires in 2025.
    Pep Guardiola told Brighton players that Roberto De Zerbi will be the next Man City managerCredit: Reuters
    The Man City boss has hailed De Zerbi as one of the most influential managersCredit: Reuters
    Guardiola has already won five Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups and the Champions League with City, so his departure will inevitably mark the end of a glittering era.
    However, he believes that Brighton boss De Zerbi will be the perfect person to pass the baton to.
    According to The Telegraph, Man City manager Guardiola approached three Brighton players in the tunnel after the two sides met in May.
    He told them: “That’s the next Man City manager,” while nodding in the direction of De Zerbi.
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    Guardiola is a known admirer of the Italian and has even hailed him as one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years.
    Former Man City captain Vincent Kompany has been linked with the job in recent months.
    Burnley full-back Connor Roberts is convinced that he will take charge of the Cityzens one day.
    Roberts said: “Vincent will go and have that Man City job one day. I can’t express how good Vincent and his staff are.
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    “I thought I knew quite a lot about football about how to play and what to do. But this season working with them, now I know a lot more.”
    Despite their success in the Championship, Kompany’s Clarets have endured a slow start to life back in the Premier League.
    They currently sit 18th in the table with just four points from eight games.
    Vincent Kompany has been linked with the Man City jobCredit: Getty More

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    Man City ‘make move to sign £44m-rated centre-back’ despite Pep Guardiola spending £200m on the position in three years

    MANCHESTER CITY are interested in signing Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini, according to reports.The 19-year-old has impressed for the Serie A side.
    Atalanta star Giorgio Scalvini is attracting plenty of interestCredit: Rex
    Scalvini, 19, was identified as an alternative to Josko Gvardiol in the summer.
    And according to Calciomercato, City remain interested in his services.
    They add that he would be expected to cost around £44million to prise away from Atalanta.
    Scalvini has started nine of his side’s ten games in all competitions so far this term.
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    He has also become an Italy regular, already earning seven caps for the Azzurri.
    City could add him to an impressive pool of centre-backs, having spent over £200m on the position in the last three years.
    Ruben Dias cost £64.5m and Nathan Ake £41m in the summer of 2020.
    While £15m was splashed out on Manuel Akanji last year, and £77m on Gvardiol in August.
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    Man City have forked out on the likes of Ruben Dias and Nathan AkeCredit: Rex
    Should City push to sign Scalvini, they will have to fend off interest from elsewhere.
    Bayern Munich are reportedly eager to bring Scalvini to Germany.
    While Juventus would love to sign Atalanta’s star prospect.
    Scalvini played with Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund last season.
    The Danish forward subsequently moved to Old Trafford for £72m.
    Scalvini went up against Harry Kane on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty More

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    Kalvin Phillips could join Harry Kane in shock Bayern Munich transfer with Man City concerned about Newcastle deal

    NEWCASTLE are facing a battle to persuade Manchester City to loan them Kalvin Phillips.Toon want City’s England midfielder in January as £55million summer buy Sandro Tonali faces a lengthy ban after admitting betting offences while at AC Milan.
    Kalvin Phillips is wanted by Newcastle, West Ham and Bayern MunichCredit: Getty
    Pep Guardiola has concerns about letting Phillips join Newcastle in JanuaryCredit: Getty
    The Magpies are keeping tabs on City outcast Phillips, 27, who said he will consider his Etihad future after being frozen out of the first XI.
    Boss Pep Guardiola is likely to let him leave on loan in January but will wait to see whether Newcastle are title rivals once the window opens.
    West Ham and German giants Bayern Munich have also shown interest in the England star, who was told he could leave in the summer but instead decided to fight for his spot at the Treble winners.
    Yet Phillips has made just three sub appearances in the Prem this term.
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    And Guardiola admits he has failed to get the best out of him since he arrived from Leeds in a £45million deal in 2022.
    Magpies boss Eddie Howe faces a huge decision over whether to play Tonali, 23, against Crystal Palace tomorrow.
    The Azzurri ace faces a ban of up to three years after confessing to betting on his former side.
    He and Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo were sent home from the Italy squad last week after being quizzed by cops.
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    Phillips could join Harry Kane at BayernCredit: Reuters
    Juventus star Nicolo Fagioli was handed a one-year ban, with five months suspended.
    Newcastle say Tonali is cooperating with the probe. His agent Giuseppe Riso said: “He knows he has made a mistake.” More

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    Emotional Graeme Souness leads stars at Francis Lee’s funeral as world of football honours Man City and England legend

    SCORES of mourners turned out to pay their respects to the late Francis Lee.The former Manchester City and England star passed away earlier this month aged 79 following a long battle with cancer.
    Former Manchester City striker Francis Lee passed away this month aged 79Credit: REX
    Lee passed away following a long battle with cancerCredit: GETTY
    The beloved Lee was laid to rest by his family on ThursdayCredit: SPLASH
    Graeme Souness was one of several former players in attendance to pay their respectsCredit: PA
    Lee – who scored 148 goals in 330 appearances for City – was laid to rest by his friends and family on Thursday morning following a service at Manchester Cathedral.
    Lee’s former City team-mates Tony Book, Mike Summerbee and Joe Royle were among the mourners, as was ex-Sky Blue Micah Richards.
    Graeme Souness was also in attendance and looked emotional before the service.
    City paid tribute to their late striker immediately after learning of his passing, writing: “It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of former Manchester City player and Chairman Francis Lee, aged 79.
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    “A Club legend in every sense, Francis made 330 appearances for City, scoring 148 goals.”
    It continued: “Everyone at Manchester City would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of Francis at this very difficult time.”
    Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “Francis will always be remembered as one of Manchester City’s greats.
    “His critical contribution to the Club’s unprecedented success in the 60s and 70s was characterised by flair, dynamism and excitement.
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    Francis Lee’s funeral was well-attendedCredit: SPLASH
    The service for the late Lee was held at Manchester CathedralCredit: SPLASH
    Lee’s former Manchester City team-mate Tony Book was in attendanceCredit: PA
    Joe Royle also attended the service of his former City team-mateCredit: PA
    Micah Richards also paid his respects to the late LeeCredit: PA
    “His record as the Club’s top scorer for five consecutive seasons, his many goals for Club and Country, and his 27 England caps, are all testament to his quality as a player.
    “These are records that will stand the test of time.
    “But, what should also never be forgotten is that, as both player and Chairman, he constantly demonstrated his love, passion and commitment to the Club.
    “It was an extension of his larger-than-life personality. A personality that made an impression wherever he went.
    “His passing will sadden not only those connected to Manchester City, but the wider football family.
    “On behalf of everyone at the Club, our thoughts, thanks, and deepest sympathies are with Francis’ family and friends.”
    Summerbee said of his late and beloved pal: “It is an honour to be able to say Francis Lee was both a friend and teammate.
    “He is a man I will always hold in the highest regard – a truly brilliant footballer and a fantastic person.
    The late Lee was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2016Credit: SPLASH
    “Much of what Manchester City achieved in the 60s and 70s was down to Francis.
    “He was a superb goalscorer and a man who could create chances from nothing.
    “He is, quite rightly, seen as one of this club’s best-ever players.
    “This is desperately sad news for Francis’ friends and family – but also for Manchester City Football Club. We have lost a true giant.
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    “I want to send my thoughts and prayers to his wonderful wife Gill and his children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik.
    “Everyone at Manchester City is thinking of you.” More

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    Man City star Julian Alvarez targeted by Barcelona as long-term transfer replacement for Robert Lewandowski

    JULIAN ALVAREZ is the subject of transfer interest from Barcelona reports suggest.The Manchester City star has enjoyed an electric start to the season, scoring six goals and adding five assists.
    Julian Alvarez is being eyed as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski by BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    However, Pep Guardiola may soon come under pressure to keep the 23-year-old.
    According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona are looking at Julian Alvarez as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
    Like Alvarez, Lewandowski has had an impressive start to the season with six goals and four assists, but with a 12-year difference in age the pair are at the opposite end of their respective careers.
    Sport’s report suggests both Barca boss Xavi and sporting director and ex-Chelsea star Deco admire Alvarez, with Xavi particularly impressed by his versatility and eye for goal.
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    The forward was a key member of the Argentina team which lifted the World Cup in Qatar.
    City completed the signing of Alvarez for just £14million from River Plate in January 2022 off the back of him being named the South American Footballer of the Year for 2021.

    It is claimed Alvarez has a release clause worth £43.4m (€50m).
    Despite the transfer links, Guardiola and City technical director Txiki Begiristain have no intention of parting ways with him.
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    Alvarez has a contract with last season’s Treble winners until 2028.
    While he is more than capable of playing as an out-and-out striker, Alvarez has been deployed behind Erling Haaland in a slightly deeper role this season, partly owing to the injury of Kevin de Bruyne.
    Man City host Brighton on Saturday at 3pm, before a Champions League trip to Swiss side BSC Young Boys and the Manchester derby.
    Xavi is said to be a huge admirer of AlvarezCredit: Getty More